LD 600 Maine House · 132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act To Initiate Recounts In Tied Elections

This bill requires the Secretary of State to automatically order a recount whenever an election appears to end in a tie. It also allows any candidate who lost (and is not the declared winner) to request a recount within 5 business days. For municipal elections, the municipal clerk must automatically initiate a recount if a tie occurs, and if the tie persists, the town must reconvene to hold a new vote or run-off election. The bill applies to both state elections and municipal elections for town offices or referendums.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Signed May 23, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
5
Committee
3
May 23, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
upper
May 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
lower
May 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (H-145) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.
upper
May 12, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM
legislature
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors