FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2011
Contact: Charles E. Summers, Jr.
207-626-8400

Secretary of State Charles Summers Announces May 10, 2011 Special Election For Maine Senate District 7

Special election will fill legislative vacancy created by the resignation
of State Senator Lawrence Bliss

AUGUSTA, MAINE -- Secretary of State Charles Summers announced today that a special election in State Senate District 7 will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. The election is required to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of State Senator Lawrence Bliss. Bliss, who submitted his letter of resignation to Governor Paul LePage on March 15, will resign his seat effective April 15, 2011.

State Senate District 7 is comprised of the municipalities of South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and part of Scarborough.

In accordance with Title 21-A, Maine law on Elections and the Maine Constitution, Governor LePage issued a proclamation declaring the vacancy and ordering the appropriate political committees to meet. The Cumberland County Democratic, Green Independent and Republican committees have until 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, 2011, to file a Certificate of Nomination with the Secretary of State in order to place the name of a candidate on the Special Election ballot. A caucus of the county committee members residing within Senatorial District 7 will be held to nominate a candidate. The caucus will be called and conducted under the applicable party rules.

Nomination petitions for candidates who are not enrolled in a party are available through the Division of Elections. Non-party candidate petitions, containing the signatures of at least 200 qualified electors, must be filed with the Secretary of State by 4 p.m. April 7, 2011. Any registered voter who resides within the district may sign the petition, regardless of political party designation.

Voters in Senate District 7 may now request an absentee ballot from their municipal clerk. Blank (write-in) absentee ballots will be provided to each municipality in the district. Regular absentee ballots will be made available once those names are reported to the Secretary of State by the respective political parties, or once any non-party candidates file the required petitions.

The Department of the Secretary of State is responsible for accepting and reviewing the Certificates of Nomination, printing the ballots, providing information and assistance to municipal officials as needed, and confirming the election results.