State referendum: Nov. 5, 2019

Sun, 11/03/2019 - 15:34

Here are the results of the November 5, 2019 Question 2, Constitutional Amending state referendum as they roll in from municipalities in Knox and Waldo counties.

This proposal would amend Maine’s Constitution to allow voters who have physical disabilities that prevent them from signing their own names to use an alternative method of signing a citizens initiative or peoples veto petition.

Maine election law already allows voters with disabilities to use an alternative signature on a voter registration application, a change of party enrollment form, candidate nomination petitions, and Maine Clean Election Act forms by using a signature stamp or by authorizing another Maine-registered voter to sign on the voters behalf in the voters presence and at the direction of the voter.

Adoption of the proposed Constitutional amendment would expand the scope of this election statute so that voters with certain physical disabilities would also be able to sign citizens initiative petitions and peoples veto petitions.

The Maine Constitution (in Article IV, part 3, section 20) currently provides that a “written petition” for a citizens’ initiative or a people’s veto referendum must contain “original signatures of the petitioners.” This definition prevents voters who are physically unable to write an original signature from signing these types of petitions.

Maine election law (Title 21-A, section 153-A of the Maine Revised Statutes) already allows a voter who is unable to sign his or her own name to sign a voter registration application, a change of party enrollment form, candidate nomination petitions, and Maine Clean Election Act forms by using a signature stamp or by authorizing another Maine-registered voter to sign on the voter’s behalf, in the voter’s presence and at the direction of the voter.

Adoption of the proposed constitutional amendment would authorize the Legislature to expand the scope of this election statute or to adopt a different alternative method that would allow voters with certain physical disabilities to sign citizens’ initiative petitions and people’s veto petitions.

A “Yes” vote approves adoption of the constitutional amendment.

A “No” vote opposes adoption of the constitutional amendment.

Knox County

Question 2: Constitutional Amending	Yes	No
Appleton	137	49
Camden	809	101
Cushing	111	47
Friendship
Hope	168	45
Isle au Haut
Matinicus	13	0
North Haven	52	6
Owls Head	174	57
Rockland	936	211
Rockport	413	94
St. George	231	80
South Thomaston	142	28
Thomaston	256	65
Union	283	109
Vinalhaven	139	24
Warren	164	90
Washington	148	59
TOTAL	4,176	1,065
Waldoboro (Lincoln County)

Waldo County

Question 2: Constitutional Amending	Yes	No
Belfast
Belmont
Brooks	69	35
Burnham
Frankfort
Freedom
Islesboro
Jackson	46	18
Knox
Liberty	108	26
Lincolnville
Monroe
Montville	76	21
Morrill	64	36
Northport	166	66
Palermo	115	41
Prospect	61	28
Searsmont	123	54
Searsport	209	53
Stockton Springs
Swanville
Thorndike	50	25
Troy	41	53
Unity	123	44
Waldo
Winterport	208	116
TOTAL	1,459	616