FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 16, 2016
Contact: Kristen Muszynski
work: 626-8400/cell: 441-7638

Public comment period now open on wording of November referendum question

AUGUSTA – Public comment is now being accepted for the wording of the citizen’s initiative question that will appear on the Nov. 6, 2018 Referendum Election ballot, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced today.

The department’s Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions has certified one citizen’s initiative that will go before voters:

• An Act To Establish Universal Home Care for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities. “Do you want to create the Universal Home Care Program, which will provide services to people with disabilities and senior citizens who need daily assistance in their homes, funded by a new tax of 3.8% on individual income over $128,400?”

The full text of the proposed legislation is available on the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions’ Citizen’s Initiatives page, along with proponent information.

State law requires Secretary Dunlap to present the question “concisely and intelligibly.” He will be accepting public comments regarding the question’s form and content for a 30-day period, beginning today, Wednesday, May 16, until 5 p.m. on June 15, 2018.

Comments will be accepted via email, mail or in person:

• Email sos.office@maine.gov and please use “public comment” in the subject line
• Mail comments to the Secretary of State, Attn: Public Comment, 148 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0148
• Drop off written comments to the office of the secretary of state at the Nash School Building, 103 Sewall St., 2nd floor, Augusta, Maine.

For more information, visit the Upcoming Elections page on the Secretary of State’s website.