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 people's veto petition. The alternative method would be defined by statute.

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.