Two interesting election law bills have been introduced in the Maine legislature. LD 73 would move the petition deadline for non-presidential independent candidates from late May to early March. It is sponsored by Representative Brian Bolduc (D-Auburn). Under existing law, candidates running in the June partisan primaries file in March. In 1984, the Maine policy that independent candidates must file on the same day that primary candidates must file was declared unconstitutional. That case was Stoddard v Quinn, 593 F.Supp. 300. Therefore, if LD 73 were enacted, it would be unconstitutional.

Starting in 1958, Maine’s petition deadline for all independent candidates was in September (before 1958, Maine held its congressional and state elections in September instead of November, so before 1958 the non-presidential independent candidate petition deadline was in July). In 1961 the independent deadline was moved to August. In 1971 it was moved to primary day in June. In 1979 it was moved to April, and in 1980 the April deadline was declared unconstitutional for presidential independents, and in 1984 April was thrown out for all independent candidates.

The other interesting bill is LD 80, which eliminates public funding in primary season for candidates who have no primary opponent. This is obviously a bill to save money, and is introduced by Representative L. Knight (R-Livermore Falls). Thanks to Thomas MacMillan for this news.