AUGUSTA — The citizen initiative petition effort to create a consumer-owned utility has been found valid, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows confirmed today.

The petitions for "An Act To Create the Pine Tree Power Company, a Nonprofit, Customer-owned Utility" had been in circulation since October 22, 2021. On October 31, 2022 the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions received 10,279 petition forms with 80,154 signatures of voters who support the initiative.

AUGUSTA — Changes to Maine notarial law are now in effect under a 2022 law which establishes a separate office of marriage officiant and allows for remote and electronic notarization.

Governor Janet Mills and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows signed the proclamation announcing a special election for the Maine House District 122 seat will be held March 5, 2024.

This House seat was previously held by State Representative Lois Galgay Reckitt, who passed away in October.

House District 122 is made up of part of South Portland.

AUGUSTA — Maine State Archives has hired Sarah Hansen as the Director of Special Projects for the Maine Semiquincentennial Commission. Hansen started in her new role on June 3.

"I am thrilled to be joining the outstanding team at Maine State Archives and the Maine Semiquincentennial Commission," said Hansen. "This is an incredible opportunity for all Mainers to come together to explore our stories, rich and challenging, and meaningfully engage each other in understanding the power of this place we now call Maine."

AUGUSTA — On Monday the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will unveil an appointment system for Mainers to schedule appointments at branch offices around the state.

"Mainers lead busy lives, and for a variety of reasons, many people have limited time for errands like renewing their license," said Secretary Bellows. "Launching appointments while maintaining walk-in options is a common sense step forward to better serve our customers."

AUGUSTA - Secretary of State Shenna Bellows release the following statement on Friday, January 6, the two year anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol and the peaceful transfer of power which occurred January 6, 2021:

The official tabulation of the votes cast for the November 7, 2023 Referendum Election has been posted on the Secretary of State’s website.

The tabulation is available here, and was communicated to Gov. Janet Mills yesterday, November 27. Gov. Mills has 10 days from yesterday to proclaim the results of the ballot questions.

The deadline for candidates for president to turn in a sufficient number of signatures to be on the March 5, 2024 Primary Election ballot was 5 p.m. today. As of that deadline, the following candidates have submitted the required 2,000 signatures from Maine voters:

Democrats:

• Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
• Dean B. Phillips

Republicans:

AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows released the below statement following the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee bipartisan 7-1 vote today to defeat LD 1038, a bill that would repeal Maine’s Ranked Choice Voting law.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is warning Maine corporations and non-profits to watch out for a misleading solicitation they may have received in the mail which offer to file annual reports on their behalf, for a $210 fee.