Senate enacts Maxmin’s bill to create semi-open primaries
AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate has enacted a bill from Sen. Chloe Maxmin, D-Nobleboro, that would create semi-open primaries in Maine. LD 231, “An Act to Create Semi-Open Primaries,” received unanimous, bipartisan support.
In Maine, unenrolled voters comprise roughly one-third of all registered voters, according to a news release.
Nationwide, 49 percent of veterans and 50 percent of millennial voters are unenrolled or consider themselves unaffiliated with either party, the release noted.
Under Maine’s current system, these voters are not allowed to vote in either party’s primary races unless they register with that party.
“Maine is home to a large number of voters who don’t completely identify with one political party or another. But because they're not enrolled as Democrats or Republicans, they’re locked out of primary elections that their tax dollars pay for,” said Sen. Maxmin. “I don’t think that’s fair, and I don’t think that it makes for the strongest democracy. I’m so glad to see this bill get such strong support. When we encourage and allow more voters to participate in our elections, we all benefit.”
As amended, LD 231 would allow unenrolled voters to participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary each cycle, without changing their party affiliation.
If a voter becomes unenrolled by withdrawing from a party, they may not participate in any primary for 15 days, unless they are also registering to vote at a new address.
This aligns with current law regarding primary participation for voters switching parties. In addition, unenrolled voters who participate in a party’s primary must be considered party members for the purpose of allocating delegates to the party’s state convention or presidential nominating convention.
If an unenrolled voter participates in a party primary, their participation will be tracked in the central voter registration system, as is done for party members.
LD 231 now goes to Gov. Janet Mills, who has 10 days to either sign the bill, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature.
