FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 26, 2018
Contact: Kristen Muszynski
207-626-8404/ 207-441-7638

Deadline is April 3 for public comment on People’s Veto to appear in citizens’ guide

AUGUSTA – The Department of the Secretary of State is currently accepting submissions of public comment to appear in the Citizens’ Guide to the Referendum Election.

The department publishes the Citizens’ Guide before every Referendum Election. Any individual, corporation, political action committee or other organization may file public comments in support of, or in opposition to, a ballot measure for publication in the guide. The Secretary of State’s Division of Elections allows for up to six commentary submissions – three in support and three in opposition – on each referendum question.

This year, voters will decide on one People’s Veto referendum question on the June 12, 2018 ballot:

Question 1:  Do you want to reject the parts of a new law that would delay the use of ranked-choice voting in the election of candidates for any state or federal office until 2022, and then retain the method only if the constitution is amended by December 1, 2021, to allow ranked-choice voting for candidates in state elections?

Ballot measure public comments are limited to 300 words or less and must be accompanied by a completed application form and a $500 fee. Public comments must be submitted both on paper and in electronic format, and cannot be emailed. The fee must be paid in person, and all materials submitted to the Secretary of State by the deadline of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

The Citizens’ Guide to the Referendum Election will be available on the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions website before Election Day. Copies of the guide are also printed and distributed to every municipality as well as public libraries throughout the state.

For the application form, instructions and rules on the Citizens’ Guide to the Referendum Election public comment submission process, visit our Public Comments information page .