CHAPTER 19

H.P. 76 - L.D. 100

Resolve, Requiring the Secretary of State To Develop

Voting Systems Standards

Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas, federal law requires that the State implement certain voting systems standards no later then January 1, 2006; and

Whereas, in order to adopt those standards, it is vital that a stakeholders group begin its work immediately so that a legislative proposal may be crafted and acted upon before the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 122nd Legislature; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Voting systems standards. Resolved: That, pursuant to the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252, Section 301, the State shall adopt and implement by January 1, 2006 voting systems standards that apply uniformly and in a nondiscriminatory manner and that define what constitutes a vote and what must be counted as a vote for each category of voting system used in the State; and be it further