An Act To Replace The Participation Threshold In Votes To Adopt Or Alter A Municipal Charter With A Lower Approval Threshold

LD 1388 lowers the voter participation threshold for municipal charter changes in Maine from 30% to 15% of the total votes cast in the municipality during the last gubernatorial election. This means a smaller percentage of voters must participate in a charter vote for it to be valid, making it easier for proposals to advance. The bill does not change the requirement that a majority of votes cast must support the proposal. It directly affects Maine municipalities considering new charters, charter revisions, or amendments.