FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Contact: Kristen Muszynski
work: 626-8400/cell: 441-7638


Public comment period now open on wording of transmission line ballot question


AUGUSTA – Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is now accepting public comment on the wording of the citizen’s initiative question that will appear on the Nov. 2, 2021 Referendum Election ballot.

The department’s Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions has certified one citizen’s initiative that will go before voters: An Act To Require Legislative Approval of Certain Transmission Lines, Require Legislative Approval of Certain Transmission Lines and Facilities and Other Projects on Public Reserved Lands and Prohibit the Construction of Certain Transmission Lines in the Upper Kennebec Region.

The ballot question for this legislation, as drafted, reads:

“Do you want to ban the construction of high-impact electric transmission lines in the Upper Kennebec Region and to require the Legislature to vote on other such projects in Maine retroactive to 2014, with a two-thirds vote required if a project uses public lands?”

State law requires Secretary Bellows to present the proposed legislation “concisely and intelligibly” as a ballot question. She will be accepting public comments regarding the question’s form and content for a 30-day period, beginning today, Tuesday, April 13 until 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2021. All comments will be reviewed and considered before the ballot question is finalized.

Comments will be accepted via the online submission form, email, mail or in person:

  • Use the comment submission form at http://www.maine.gov/sos/form/certain-transmission-lines
  • Email PublicComment.SOS@Maine.gov, using subject line “Public Comment”
  • Mail comments to the Secretary of State, Attn: Public Comment, 148 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0148
  • Drop off written comments to the Office of the Secretary of State at the Nash School Building, 103 Sewall St., 2nd floor, Augusta, Maine.

The full text of the proposed legislation is available on the Citizen’s Initiatives webpage, along with proponent information.