Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §374-B is enacted to read:

§374-B.__Enrolling in another party prohibited

A candidate for Governor or any other statewide office who is running for that office as a member of one political party may not be a candidate for that office in the same election cycle after changing enrollment to another political party.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§5, ¶D, as enacted by IB 1995, c. 1, §17, is amended to read:

D. Not accepted contributions, except for seed money contributions, and otherwise complied with seed money restrictions; and

Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §1125, sub-§5, ¶D-1 is enacted to read:

D-1.__Not run for election as a nonparticipating candidate any time during the election cycle for which that certification is sought; and

SUMMARY

This bill amends current law by prohibiting a candidate from switching political parties while a candidate for office during an election cycle. It also amends the Maine Clean Election Act by establishing that a candidate is not eligible for certification as a participating candidate if that candidate has run as a nonparticipating candidate during the same election cycle.