The conduct of elections and the recount of ballots shall be
in accordance with the provisions of Titles 21-A and 30-A, Maine Revised
Statutes.
(1)
Nomination Petitions Required.
(a)
With the exception of the Budget Committee per Article 6.03(1),
candidates for election to any elective office whose names appear
on a written ballot must be nominated by petition.
(b)
Any qualified voter of the Town may be nominated for election
by a petition signed by qualified voters of the Town.
(c)
Number Required. Not fewer than 25 nor more than 50 signatures
of Camden residents are required.
(2)
Signatures.
(a)
Affidavit Required. The signatures to a nomination petition
need not all be affixed to one paper, but to each separate paper of
a petition there shall be attached an affidavit executed by its circulator
stating the number of signers of the paper, that each signature on
it was affixed in the circulator's presence and that certifies each
signature to be the genuine signature of the person whose name it
purports to be.
(b)
The signatures shall be executed in ink. Each signer shall indicate
next to their signature the date of signing and the street address
where the signer resides.
(3)
Filing and Acceptance of Nomination Petitions. Completed nomination
papers, including all separate papers comprising the nomination petition,
shall be assembled and filed with the Town Clerk during business hours.
The Clerk shall make a record of the exact time when each petition
is filed. No nomination petition shall be accepted unless accompanied
by a signed acceptance of nomination.
(4)
Procedure After Filing Nomination Papers. Within five (5) days after
the filing of a nomination petition, the Town Clerk shall notify the
candidate and the person who filed the petition whether or not the
petition satisfied the requirements prescribed by this Charter.
(5)
Insufficient Petition. If a petition is found insufficient, the Town
Clerk shall return it immediately to the person who filed it with
a statement certifying wherein it is found insufficient. Within the
regular time for filing petitions, such a petition may be amended
and filed again as a new petition, or a different petition may be
filed for the same candidate.
(6)
Retention. The Town Clerk shall keep on file all petitions found
sufficient at least until the expiration of the term for which the
candidates are nominated in those petitions.
State Law Reference: Title 30-A MRS, § 2528.
Where two (2) or more candidates have been nominated for any
office, the names of the candidates shall appear on the ballot in
alphabetical order by last name. The name of each nominee or each
candidate for nomination must appear on the ballot as follows: last
name first followed by the first name and middle name or initial;
last name first followed by the first name or the first initial and
the middle name; or last name first followed by the first name. State
Law Reference: Title 21-A MRS, § 601.
(1)
Number of Votes. Each voter shall be entitled to vote for as many
candidates as there are vacancies to be filled.
(2)
Plurality. Election shall be determined by plurality vote. In case
of a tie for any single one of the vacancies to be filled, a run-off
election of those who tied shall be held within fourteen (14) days
on one week's notice in a print and electronic media of general circulation
in the Town and posted on the Town's website.
(1)
Publication. Copies of the full text of any ordinance or amendment
to be enacted by ballot shall be made available in the Town office
at least thirty (30) days before the election date and displayed on
election day at the designated place of polling.
(2)
Title. An ordinance to be voted on by written ballot shall be presented
for voting by ballot title. The ballot title of a measure may differ
from its legal title but shall be a clear, concise statement describing
the substance of the measure without argument or prejudice.
State Law Reference: Title 30-A MRS § 3001.
(3)
Summary. The Select Board may approve a brief summary, to be included
on the Warrant and printed below the ballot question, which shall
fairly and factually summarize the effect of the proposed Article,
ordinance, or amendment.
The Select Board may provide for the use of mechanical, electronic
or other devices for voting or counting the votes consistent with
the law.
State Law Reference: Title 21-A MRS § 808 and 809.
