Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §737-B is enacted to read:

§737-B.__Disputing ballots

1.__Permitted disputes.__A candidate whose race is subject to a recount in accordance with this section may dispute a ballot only if:

A.__The disputed marking on the ballot relates to the race being recounted; or

B.__The validity of the entire ballot is being questioned.

2.__Dispute prohibited.__If there is a clear marking on the ballot relating to the race being recounted, a disputed marking relating to other races on the same ballot may not be disputed.

3.__Validity of dispute.__The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee shall determine whether a dispute of a ballot is valid as provided in subsections 1 and 2.__If the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee determines that a dispute is not valid, then the ballot must be counted.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §§740 and 740-A are enacted to read:

§740.__Disputed ballots to be public

1.__Secretary of State to release disputed ballots.__The Secretary of State shall release notarized copies of disputed ballots to the public if:

A.__Both candidates in the race being recounted agree to release them to the public;

B.__For an election to the Senate or the House of Representatives, the Senate or House committee charged with examining the disputed ballots requests their release; or

C.__A candidate in the race being recounted disagrees with a ruling made by the Attorney General on the validity of a ballot as provided by section 737-B, subsection 3.

2.__Voter identity protected.__Upon releasing a disputed ballot to the public, the Secretary of State may not identify the voter who cast the ballot.

§740-A.__Abuse of recount process; penalty