AUGUSTA (AP) – Question 2 on the ballot, which has generated barely a whisper of public discussion, seeks to clear up a legal gray area that surfaced while the TABOR initiative campaign was seeking ballot approval.

The question goes to voters in the form of a proposed constitutional amendment that sets a precise time frame for filing initiative petitions with the secretary of state, ending a contradiction in Maine laws that eventually went to the state supreme court for clarification.

As it will appear on the ballot, Question 2 asks: “Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to state that a citizens’ initiative or people’s veto petition must be submitted to local or state officials by the constitutional deadline in order to be certified and, in the case of a citizens’ initiative, must be filed with the Secretary of State within 18 months?”

Legislative approval paved the way for the question to go before voters.

In effect, it proposes that signed petitions for a direct initiative must be filed with the secretary of state’ office within 18 months after the date the petition is approved by the secretary for circulation.

It also clarifies that, to be valid, signatures on initiative petitions may not be older than one year at the time the petitions are filed with the secretary of state.

The changes address town clerks’ long-standing frustration with petition bottlenecks, which prompted them to ask the Legislature to remedy the situation.

http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/2006/intent06.html