AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is now accepting public comment on the wording of a citizen initiative question that will appear on the Nov. 4, 2025, General Election ballot, unless enacted by the Legislature as written.
The department’s Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions certified An Act to Protect Maine Communities by Enacting the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act in March. The ballot question, as drafted, reads:
Do you want to allow courts to temporarily bar a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger?
State law requires Secretary Bellows to present each proposed legislation “in a clear, concise and direct manner that describes the subject matter… as simply as possible.” She will be accepting public comments regarding the question’s form and content for a 30-day period, beginning today, Friday, March 28 until 5 p.m. on Monday, April 28. All comments will be reviewed and considered before the ballot question is finalized.
Comments will be accepted via the online submission form, email, mail or in person:
- Use the comment submission form at: https://www.maine.gov/sos/form/act-protect-maine-communities-enacting-extreme-risk-protection-order-act-2025-03-21
- Email PublicComment.SOS@Maine.gov using subject line “Public Comment –Extreme Risk Protection”
- 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.
The full text of the proposed legislation is available on the Citizen Initiatives webpage, along with proponent information.
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