§121-A. Deadline for registration
1.
Registration deadline.
The deadlines for receipt of voter registration applications are as follows:
A.
If submitted by mail or by a 3rd person, the close of business on the 21st day before election day;
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
B.
If submitted online, 5 p.m. on the 21st day before election day;
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
C.
If transmitted by the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles pursuant to section 232 or by a source agency other than the Bureau of Motor Vehicles pursuant to section 233, midnight on the 7th day before election day; and
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
D.
If submitted in person, the close of the polls on election day.
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
2.
Closed period.
The 20-day period before an election is the closed period. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the applicable registrar must receive a voter registration application before the start of the closed period in order for the applicant's name to appear on the incoming voter list for that election.
A.
Notwithstanding the closed period, a person may qualify to vote in an election by registering to vote in person at any time before the close of the polls on election day.
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
B.
Notwithstanding the closed period, a person may qualify to vote in an election by registering to vote through automatic voter registration under section 232 or section 233 no later than the 7th day before election day.
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
3.
Notice required.
An applicant who attempts to register to vote within 30 days of an election by any method other than in-person registration, online registration or automatic voter registration under section 232 or section 233 must be advised that the registrar might not receive the application before the closed period, but that the applicant may register in person any time before the close of the polls on election day.
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
4.
Deadlines for transferring voter registration applications.
The following provisions govern deadlines for transferring voter registration applications.
A.
Outside agencies shall transfer voter registration applications to the Secretary of State within 5 days of receipt.
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
B.
The Secretary of State shall transfer voter registration applications received from outside agencies to the appropriate registrar by the following deadlines:
(1)
If the application is received 10 days or fewer before the start of the closed period, within 5 days of receipt;
(2)
If the application is received more than 10 days before the start of the closed period, within 10 days of receipt; and
(3)
If the application is received after the start of the closed period, within 10 business days after the election.
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
C.
The Secretary of State shall transmit voter registration applications submitted online to the appropriate registrar by the next business day following receipt.
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
D.
The Secretary of State shall transmit voter registration applications submitted to the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles pursuant to section 232 or by a source agency other than the Bureau of Motor Vehicles pursuant to section 233 to the appropriate registrar by the next business day following receipt.
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
5.
Registrar to send notice of disposition.
The registrar shall send the notice of disposition required by section 122 no later than the 18th day before election day to all voters whose voter registration applications were submitted online, submitted by mail or submitted by a 3rd person as long as the registrar received the voter registration application by the 21st day before election day.
[PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2011, c. 534, §5 (NEW). PL 2021, c. 439, §3 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 439, §15 (AFF). PL 2023, c. 291, §2 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 291, §4 (AFF). PL 2025, c. 397, §3 (RPR).