Measure on the ballot in the 2023 Maine General Election in Maine.
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Get StartedThe intent of this proposed amendment to the Maine Constitution is to require inclusion in the official printing of the Maine Constitution of three provisions that are already part of the Constitution but, under current law, cannot be included in its official printings. The proposed amendment would accomplish this purpose by repealing article X, section 7, of the Maine Constitution. That section requires sections 1, 2, and 5, of article X to be omitted in copies of the Maine Constitution that appear in printings of the laws of Maine. That section also contains language ensuring that the omitted provisions have the same legal effect as if they were printed. A brief description of each currently omitted provision follows: • Section 1 of article X contains a schedule for the election and convening of the first Maine Legislature in 1821. It also established initial electoral districts for the Maine House of Representatives and Maine Senate. • Section 2 of article X established special terms of office for officials elected in the 1821 election. • Section 5 of article X reprints and incorporates into the Maine Constitution provisions of the 1819 Massachusetts law authorizing the separation of Maine from Massachusetts. These provisions are known as the Articles of Separation. There are nine Articles. The Articles describe rights and obligations of Maine and Massachusetts relating to separation, including division of property and assets, the assignment of certain Massachusetts obligations to Maine, and the treatment of certain public lands. If the proposed constitutional amendment is approved, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, who is responsible for periodically arranging the Maine Constitution, could include these previously omitted provisions in the next official arrangement of the Constitution. Once approved by the Legislature, such an arrangement could lawfully be printed by the Secretary of State.
A "YES" vote is to amend the Maine Constitution to remove restrictions on printing some of its provisions.
A "NO" vote opposes this change to the Maine Constitution.
"To have any provision of the constitution not printed but in full legal effect is antithetical to the entire premise of a transparent government. Making our state records, including the entire Maine constitution, more easily accessible to the public and the people we serve is a cornerstone for an open and credible democracy." - Shenna Bellows, Secretary of State, in support of Question 6 (Learn more)
"Any legislation that could be interpreted as invoking ancient treaties as the legal basis for modern obligations would be confusing and potentially destabilizing." - Jerry Reid, Governor's Chief Legal Counsel, in opposition to Question 6 (Learn more)
"It appears to be a misguided attempt to right a historical wrong that never occurred" - Jerry Reid, Governor's Chief Legal Counsel, in opposition to Question 6 (Learn more)
"Maine reneged on its treaty and other obligations towards the Wabanaki after the separation, and then literally erased mention of these obligations by hiding this text - which, though hidden, remains in full legal force. Restoring this text to printed copies of the Constitution does not redress this injustice, but it does at least acknowledge it." - Nathan Davis, Sierra Club Maine, in support of Question 6 (Learn more)
Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require that all of the provisions of the Constitution be included in the official printed copies of the Constitution prepared by the Secretary of State?
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