Code of Maine Rules
29 - DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
250 - BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions
Chapter 505 - VOTER LIST MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
Section 250-505-1 - Program for updating municipal voter registration lists

Universal Citation: 29 ME Code Rules ยง 250-505-1

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

1. Individual or spot changes. Each municipality shall make necessary changes to its voter registration list as soon as possible after the information arrives. Such incoming information will include:

A. Death. The names of those residents who have died shall be removed from the voter list. Names of the deceased shall be taken from death records obtained from the clerk, certified death certificates, or obituaries.

B. Notice of guardianship due to mental illness. If the municipality receives notice indicating that a registrant has been placed under guardianship due to mental illness, the registrar must remove the registrant's name.

C. Written request of registrant. If a registrant requests in writing that his or her name be removed from the voter list, the registrar shall do so.

D. Notice of new registration. When a registrar receives notice that one of the municipality's residents has registered to vote in another municipality, the registrar shall remove that name from the voter list if he or she is satisfied as to the identity of the person.

E. Motor Vehicle Request for Name/Address Change form. Upon receipt of a Motor Vehicle Request for Name/Address Change form, the registrar shall remove the registrant's name from the voter list if the registrant has moved outside the municipality. If the registrant's new address is still within the same municipality, the registrar shall make the appropriate changes on the voter list.

F. Postal Service Change of Address Notification Card. Upon receipt of the Postal Service's pre-printed Change of Address Notification Card, the registrar shall remove the registrant's name from the voter list if the new address is outside the registrar's jurisdiction and the card is signed by the registrant. If the registrant's new address is still within the same municipality, the registrar shall make the appropriate changes on the voter list.

G. Response to a Change of Address Confirmation Card. When the registrar receives a response to a Change of Address Confirmation Card, signed by the registrant, acknowledging that the registrant has moved to an address outside the registrar's jurisdiction, the registrant's name shall be removed from the voter list.

H. Other information from the registrant. If other information indicating a change of address is obtained, the registrar may, at his or her discretion, use this information to remove the registrant's name from the voter list if the new address and the voter's signature are provided. If either the new address or the signature is not available, the registrar may send a Change of Address Confirmation Card to the registrant for verification of the indicated change.

I. Mail returned to the municipal office. Mail sent to a registrant which is returned to the municipal office as not deliverable is cause for the registrar to send a Change of Address Confirmation Card to the registrant, in accordance with 21-A MRSA §162-A and these rules.

2. Mass confirmation mailings. One of the following methods of voter list maintenance must be utilized at least once every five years. Nothing in these rules should be construed to preclude a municipality from utilizing one of the following mass confirmation mailings more frequently than the prescribed minimum. Each municipality must have completed its first systematic purge by January 1, 2000. All systematic purges must be completed at least 90 days before any election.

A. First class mailing to all registrants. A municipality may send an Address Verification Notice, which is a first class, non-forwardable, address correction requested notice, to each of its registered voters. Those notices that are returned by the post office as not deliverable shall then be followed up by forwardable Change of Address Confirmation Cards, in accordance with 21-A MRSA §162-A and these rules.

B. Targeted confirmation mailing. A municipality may send to those persons on the voter list who have not voted in the most recent general election, an Address Verification Notice, which is a first class, non-forwardable, address correction requested notice. Those notices that are returned by the post office as not deliverable shall then be followed up by forwardable Change of Address Confirmation Cards, in accordance with 21-A MRSA §162-A and these rules.

C. The NCOA program. Each municipality that has a computerized voter registration file and at least 100 registered voters may participate in the NCOA program and obtain a list of potential address changes from the Postal Service. Within a reasonable period of time after receiving the list of potential changes, a Change of Address Confirmation Card shall then be sent to each of the identified individuals, in accordance with 21-A MRSA §162-A and these rules.

3. Utilizing the inactive designation.

A. If a registrant fails to respond to a Change of Address Confirmation Card within 20 days, he or she may be designated as inactive on the voter list. The use of the inactive designation is optional. In municipalities not using the inactive list, those who fail to respond to the Change of Address Confirmation Card may not be removed from the voter list.

B. An inactive designation must be clearly marked on the voter list by placing an asterisk next to the registrant's name. Asterisks for other purposes must be removed or changed. Alternatively, a separate list of inactive voters may be maintained. The date on which a registrant is placed on the inactive list must also be clearly marked in the registration file.

C. If a registrant designated as inactive votes, attempts to vote, changes address within the same municipality, responds to a Change of Address Confirmation Card indicating that his or her address has not changed, signs a petition or nomination paper as a resident of the municipality, or otherwise makes his or her residence in the community known to you, the inactive designation next to the registrant's name must be removed. Also, any of the above actions shall exclude a registrant from the targeted confirmation mailing described in sub-§2 of this section.

D. If a registrant designated as inactive fails to engage in any of the activities listed in paragraph C above for a period of two consecutive general elections, the registrant may be removed from the voter list.

E. For municipalities using an inactive list, a copy of the list of inactive voters must be provided to election officials at each polling place along with the regular voting list for election day.

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