Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §739, as amended by PL 1993, c. 473, §33 and affected by §46, is further amended to read:

§739. Ballots and incoming voting lists available for inspection

On request, a municipal clerk or the Secretary of State, or both, shall produce any ballots or incoming voting lists in their custody before the Governor, either branch of the Legislature, any legislative committee or a court of competent jurisdiction. If there are disputed ballots arising from a recount conducted pursuant to section 737-A, the Secretary of State shall make those ballots available for inspection by the public after ensuring that the ballots cannot be tampered with.__Absentee ballots that are made available for public inspection pursuant to this section must be made available in a manner that preserves the voter's anonymity.

After the time for completion of recounts following any election has elapsed, and on request of any person, the clerk of any municipality or the Secretary of State, or both, shall produce any incoming voting lists in his the clerk's or Secretary of State's custody.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Secretary of State to make available for public inspection disputed ballots arising from an election recount. This bill specifies that absentee ballots made available for public inspection must preserve the voter's anonymity.