Wording set for ballot Question 1

The wording has been finalized for the citizens' initiative ballot question, "An Act to Strengthen the Maine Clean Election Act, Improve Disclosure and Make Other Changes to the Campaign Finance Laws," which will be Question 1 on the Nov. 3, 2015 referendum election ballot.

Voters will be asked, "Do you want to change Maine law to allow publicly financed state candidates to qualify for additional funds under certain limits and rules in the Maine Clean Election Act, to improve the disclosure of who pays for political ads, and to increase penalties for violations of campaign finance law?"

Nine comments on the wording of Question 1 were received during the public comment period, which was open Thursday, July 30 through Friday, Aug. 28. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap took these comments into consideration to draft the final language of the ballot question.

In addition to the citizens' initiative question, the November ballot will also include two bond questions:

Question 2 is "An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Support the Independence of Maine's Seniors." Link to: http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_127th/chapters/PUBLIC337.asp

Question 3 is "An Act To Authorize Two General Fund Bond Issues To Improve Highways, Bridges and Multimodal Facilities." Link to: http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_127th/chapters/PUBLIC305.asp

The full text of the citizen's initiative bill, which is on file as Legislative Document 806, can be viewed online at http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_127th/billtexts/IB000101.asp .

For more information about the November 2015 elections, visit http://maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/index.html . Information on voter registration and locating your polling place can also be found on the Corporations, Elections and Commissions website.