Bill Would Require Only U.S. Citizens Vote in Local Elections
Last year the city of Portland began the process "to allow legally present non-citizens to cast ballots for City Council, school board and other city elections." The proposal didn't end up going anywhere as it lacked support according to the Portland Press Herald.
Now Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham wants to amend Maine's Constitution to add "Only a citizen of the United States may vote in a state, county or municipal or other election." to the beginning of Article II Section 1. Faulkingham states, “This amendment simply sets in stone what the framers of the Constitution already implied and intended all along.”
Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling who helped spearhead the proposal last year believes otherwise, "First and foremost, let’s understand that the Constitution of the United States did not and does not limit the right to vote to citizens...”
The process of amending the state constitution isn't as simple as a majority rule vote. The bill would need the approval of two-thirds of the House and Senate. Then it would come down to a statewide ballot.
No date has been set at this time for the bill to be voted on.