© 2024 Maine Public | Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 22-3171529
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Scroll down to see all available streams.

Language Released for November Ballot Initiatives

State election officials have released the proposed language for the five ballot initiatives that will appear before voters in November.

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap says that the public now has 30 days to comment on the questions and potentially shape how they are worded on on the ballot.

“The legal parameters for getting those questions right are fairly strict. It has to be succinct, it has to be understandable,” Dunlap says. “You can’t have ‘yes’ means ‘no’ questions. You have to try to capture the essence of what the legislation means to the voter so they can cast an informed ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote and do it all in one sentence. So it’s really quite a trick to do.”

David Boyer, who is leading the campaign to legalize marijuana in Maine, says his group is relatively happy with the wording.

“We saw it today and it appears to be a pretty accurate description of the ballot initiative,” Boyer says. “It seems like they should mention that we are taxing marijuana for adult use and it will go to the state. But otherwise we’re glad that it mentions the strong regulations that are in the initiative and that this is only for adults 21 years of age and older.”

The public now has 30 days to comment on the questions by email or mail. The Secretary of State will then have 10 days to publish the final wording.

Journalist Steve Mistler is Maine Public’s chief politics and government correspondent. He is based at the State House.