AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Deputy Secretary of State for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Cathie Curtis presented the BMV’s proposal for a license plate reissuance to the Legislature’s Transportation Committee. The new plate, replacing the current chickadee, would feature the design of the 1901 Maine flag.

“License plates serve not only to identify vehicles, but are a way of expressing our love for our state,” said Secretary Bellows. “We’re excited to present this new design proposal for the coming license plate reissuance.”

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 Maine Driver's License Manual and Motorist Handbook and Study Guide are available in the various formats and languages below:

Maine Driver's License Manual (PDF)

The Maine Secretary of State’s Division of Election Audits and Training will be conducting Maine’s first ever pilot of risk-limiting post-election audits in March.

AUGUSTA—The Department of the Secretary of State has released the 2025 State Calendar as required under state statute. The calendar is to be consulted by all state agencies, and whenever possible, to avoid scheduling meetings or public facing events on these days.

AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announces that the Town of Hanover has launched Rapid Renewal, the Department of the Secretary of State’s online service for renewing motor vehicle registrations.

Through Rapid Renewal, Mainers can quickly and easily renew their vehicle registrations and pay their municipal excise taxes online at any time. Rapid Renewal allows Mainers to conduct business with municipal and state government in one seamless online transaction.

AUGUSTA — The citizen initiative petition “An Act to Protect Maine Communities by Enacting the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act” has been found valid, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows confirmed today.

On Jan. 23, 2025, the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions received 5,581 petition forms containing 79,981 signatures of voters who support the initiative.