AUGUSTA, MAINE – Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced the final wording of a referendum question on Friday.
The wording of the citizens’ initiative question"An Act to Protect Maine Communities by Enacting the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act" will be:
“Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?”
The full text of the proposed bill is available for viewing on the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions’ Citizens’ Initiatives webpage, along with proponent information.
Secretary Bellows received two comments on the proposed ballot question during the 30-day public comment period, which was open March 28 through April 28. These comments were taken into consideration to draft the final language of each ballot question.
The initiative went to the Legislature for consideration on March 19, per the provisions of the Maine Constitution. The wording of a citizen initiative question that will appear on the November 4, 2025, General Election ballot, unless enacted by the Legislature as written.
The Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions will be creating a Citizens’ Guide to the 2025 Election in the coming months, and all voters are encouraged to read it to inform themselves of the details of the bills.
In addition to the citizens’ initiative question, the November General Election ballot will include candidate races as well as bond issues and other referenda questions that the Legislature chose to send to the voters. Ballot questions will be included on the Upcoming Elections page.
For more information about the November 2025 election, visit https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/upcoming-elections. Information on voter registration and locating your polling place can also be found on the Corporations, Elections and Commissions website.
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