Who may vote at a town meeting

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE The following document is provided by the LAW AND LEGISLATIVE DIGITAL LIBRARY at the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library http://legislature.maine.gov/lawlib Reproduced from scanned originals with text recognition applied (searchable text may contain some errors and/or omissions) RlC:HARD S. COHl.iN ATTORNEY GENERAL STATE 01-' Mi\lNI•: DEPARTMENT OF THE A'el'ORNEY GE:NEH.AL AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333 July 30, 1979 Honorable Marjorie C. Hutchings Youngstown Road · Lincolnville, Maine 04849 Dear Representative Hutchings: STEPHEN L. DIAMOND JOHN S. GLEASON JOHN M. R. PATERSON RouERT J. STol.T DEPUTY AnOHNEYS GENERAL This will respond tQ your oral request of July 25, 1979 for an opinion regarding the meaning of 30 M.R;S,A~ §2054(1) ( 19 7 8) • I.n particular, you have i,nquired as to who rna.y vote at a town meeting. 30 M.R.S.A. §2054 (1) (1978) provides: "The following provisions apply to all town meetings. 1. Each person qualified to vote for Governor in the town in which he resides may vote in the election of 'all town officials and in all town affairs, 11 Thus, for the purposes of 30 M.R.S.A. § 2054(1) {1978), a person is a "qualified voter" if h0 is "qualifie<l to v.:>b:! for Governor in the town in which he resides." The voting qualifications which an individual must satisfy in order to be a "qualified voter" are set out in 21 M.R.S.A. § 241(1978 Supp.). Section 241 provides in partincn.t p~rt: "A person who meets the following requirements may vote in any election in the municipality in which his residence is established. 1. He must be a citizen of th~ United States. 2. He must be at least 18 years of age. J. In order to vote in any election, he shall have established a residence in this State and in the muni- cipality in which he resides. 4. He must be registered to vote in the municipality." A person who satisfies the foregoing requirements is a qualified voter within the mea,ning of 30 M.R~S.A. § 2054 (1) (1978) . I hope this information is helpful to you. If I can be of further assistance please feel free to call upon me~ WRS:sm l I