AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has announced that Matinicus Isle Plantation launched Rapid Renewal, the Department of the Secretary of State's online service for the renewal of motor vehicle registrations.

Rapid Renewal allows Mainers to conduct business with municipal and state government in one seamless online transaction.

While municipal participation in Rapid Renewal is optional, the service has now includes 328 municipalities and more than 2.6 million transactions have been processed to date.

AUGUSTA — In this week’s Student Mock Election, student voters selected Governor Janet Mills and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree as winners, and Congressman Jared Golden as the leading candidate in students’ first choice rankings. 116 schools had submitted results to the Secretary of State’s office by press time.

AUGUSTA — The citizens’ initiative petition effort to allow vehicle owners and independent repair shops to access on-board diagnostic systems in vehicles has been found valid, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows confirmed today.

The petitions for "An Act Regarding Automotive Right to Repair" had been in circulation since October 14, 2022. On January 19, 2023, the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions received 10,289 petition forms with 83,252 signatures of voters who support the initiative.

AUGUSTA — Last week, the Maine Historical Records Advisory Board (MHRAB) was awarded a $4,360 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) through the Statewide Programming Grant program to develop a new Strategic Plan.

AUGUSTA — Many new laws with regard to Maine’s Department of Secretary of State, made up of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions and the Maine State Archives, went into effect this week.

Unless specifically specified otherwise in legislation, new Maine laws go into effect 90 days after the end of a legislative session. For the 2022 legislative session, most laws went into effect on August 8.

AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is warning Maine corporations and non-profits of a misleading solicitation they may have received in the mail which offer to file annual reports on their behalf, for a $185 fee.

"It is a real shame that some people try to profit off of deception and confusion to take advantage of well-meaning business owners and non-profit directors." said Secretary Bellows. "The Division of Corporations does not mail out the annual report form, making the form available online instead."

AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows released the following statement about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:

"Today's recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is just that – a recognition, not a celebration. It is a day to rededicate ourselves to continuing the work of Dr. King to push for passage of modern federal voting rights legislature to ensure all Americans have the same freedom to vote.

AUGUSTA — The Department of Secretary of State and Senator Louis Luchini, D-Ellsworth, proposed several changes to Maine’s election law to increase access to voting and streamline election administration.

AUGUSTA — Annual reports are due on June 1, 2022 for all business and nonprofit entities on file with the Secretary of State's office as of December 31, 2021.

AUGUSTA — The citizen initiative petition effort "An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures" has been found valid, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows confirmed today.

The petitions for "An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures" had been in circulation since October 27, 2023. On January 23, 2024 the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions received 11,313 petition forms with 84,025 signatures of voters who support the initiative.