Maine State Flag Referendum (2024)
| Maine State Flag Referendum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 5, 2024 | |
| Topic Motto and symbols | |
| Status On the ballot | |
| Type State statute | Origin State legislature |
The Maine State Flag Referendum is on the ballot in Maine as a legislatively referred state statute on November 5, 2024.
A "yes" vote supports replacing the existing state flag with a flag consisting of a pine tree and the North Star on a buff (light tan) background, often called the Pine Tree Flag. |
A "no" vote opposes changing the Maine state flag design. |
Overview
What would this measure do?
- See also: Text of measure
This measure would replace the current Maine state flag, which features the state's coat of arms, with a flag that features a green pine tree and the North Star (blue) on a light tan background. The original flag consisting of a pine tree and the blue North Star on a light tan background was first adopted on March 21, 1901, and was replaced with the current state flag in February 1909.[1]
Since February 1909, the Maine state flag has been the Maine coat of arms featured on a blue background. The coat of arms features a moose and pine tree with a farmer and sailor on either side, with the North Star and a ribbon with the Latin phrase Dirigo, which means "I direct."[2][3]
Previous flag of Maine (March 1901-February 1909):
A modernized version of the previous flag of Maine by the Maine Flag Company:
Maine Merchant and Marine Flag (1939):
|
Which flag design will be featured on the 2024 ballot?
- See also: Designs of the Maine state flag
It is currently not confirmed which interpretation of the Pine Tree Flag will be decided on by voters. The text of LD 86, which voters will decide on to replace the Maine State Flag, would amend Maine statute to replace the current state flag with a design that “must be buff, charged with the emblem of the State, a pine tree proper, in the center, and the North Star, a mullet of 5 points, in blue in the upper corner."[2]
There are multiple interpretations of this design, including the historical lithograph and copy of the 1901 state flag (of which there are only five in existence); a version designed by the Maine Flag Company, which uses a more simplified pine tree similar to the 1939 Maine Merchant and Marine flag; and a version designed by Maine Stitching Specialties, which features a more defined looking pine tree. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said, “One company utilizes the more modern looking version of the 1939 tree. Another company utilizes a more lifelike version.”[4]
On June 13, 2024, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced a contest for artists and designers to submit their interpretations of the design description of the flag before choosing a design to submit to voters.[5]
How did this measure get on the ballot?
- See also: Path to the ballot
Rep. Sean Paulhus (D) sponsored LD 86, which was designed to replace the Maine state flag with the pine tree flag. The Maine House of Representatives voted to engross the measure by 64-61 on June 6, 2023, and the Maine State Senate voted to engross the measure by 22-12 on June 7. Gov. Janet Mills (D) allowed the bill to become law without her signature on July 27, 2023, thereby delaying the vote on the measure until 2024 rather than 2023. A representative from her office said, "Rather than sign the bill and rush the question to ballot in little more than three months, she will allow the bill to become law – which means, barring any other legislative action, it will take effect next year and the question will be put to voters in November 2024 – to allow time for robust public debate and discussion on all sides of the issue. The Maine State flag is an important part of our state’s identity and culture, and the Governor believes it is appropriate for the people of Maine to decide whether it should be changed."[6]
Text of measure
Full text
This measure would amend the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated. The following struck-through text would be deleted and underlined text would be added.
§206. State flag The flag to be known as the official flag of the State
The flag of the State to be carried by the National Guard |
Support
Supporters
Officials
- State Rep. and bill sponsor Sean Paulhus (D)
Arguments
Opposition
Opponents
Officials
- State Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham (R)
Arguments
Campaign finance
Ballotpedia has not identified ballot measure committees registered to support or oppose the ballot measure.[7]
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Background
Maine state flag history
Since February 1909, the Maine state flag was the Maine coat of arms featured on a blue background. The 1901 coat of arms features a moose and pine tree with a farmer and sailor on either side, with the North Star and a ribbon with the Latin phrase Dirigo, which means "I direct."[8]
Maine 1909 state flag
The 1901 flag, which features a green pine tree and the North Star (blue) on a light tan background, was first adopted on March 21, 1901. The design of the 1901 flag was proposed and designed by Adjutant Gen. John Richards, a Civil War veteran.[2][9][4]
There are only five original 1901 state flags that are known to exist, and only one known to be in Maine that is owned by David Martucci, a vexillologist at the time living in the Knox County town of Washington. Neither the Maine State Archives nor the Maine Historical Society had an original example of the 1901 flag, although the Maine Historical society had a lithograph of the flag as authorized by the Legislature in 1901. The lithograph featured a more realistic looking pine tree. According to Martucci, the symbolism of the pine tree represented the social, economic, and political unity of the state, with three roots symbolizing the three branches of government that supported the people of Maine, and the blue North Star represented Maine’s position as the northernmost among the contiguous states in 1820 and its guiding light to mariners.[4]
Maine 1901 state flag
A modernized version of the previous flag of Maine was designed by the Maine Flag Company. Bethany Field, the co-owner of the Maine Flag Company, said that there are many variations of the Pine Tree Flag that were created and that her company based its modernized design on the 1939 Maine Merchant and Marine flag. The Maine Flag Company design featured a simplified, solid green pine tree in the center with a blue star on a cream colored background. The simplified, cartoon style of the pine tree is similar to the pine tree featured on the 1939 Maine Merchant and Marine flag.[10]
Maine Stitching Specialties, another Maine flag company, also designed a Pine Tree flag that is more similar to the 1901 version of the Maine flag that features a more defined pine tree.[11]
Maine Flag Company design
1939 Maine Merchant and Marine flag
Maine Stitching Specialties design
Recent ballot measures concerning state flags
Utah initiative to restore previous state flag, 2024
An initiative was sponsored in Utah that was designed to repeal Senate Bill 31 (SB 31), passed during the 2023 legislative session, which established a new state flag. Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) signed the bill on March 21, 2023, which was set to take effect on March 9, 2024. The proposed initiative was designed to require any changes to the state flag to be subject to voter approval.[12] A veto referendum was filed against SB 31 but failed to submit the required number of valid signatures before the deadline.
Mississippi State Flag Referendum, 2020
In 2020, voters in Mississippi decided on a statewide ballot measure to select a new state flag. The measure was placed on the ballot by the Mississippi State Legislature. At the election on November 3, 2020, Mississippi voters were shown a colored picture of the new proposed state flag, named the In God We Trust Flag. Voters were able to vote either yes to adopt the new flag or no to oppose adopting the new state flag. Voters approved adopting the new state flag. If the new proposed flag had been rejected by voters, the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag would have reconvened to design another flag and present it to voters at another election.
Path to the ballot
- See also: Legislatively referred state statute
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Maine State Legislature to place a state statute on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 76 votes in the Maine House of Representatives and 18 votes in the Maine State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Statutes require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Rep. Sean Paulhus (D) introduced the measure as Maine House Bill 86 during the 2023-2024 legislative session. On June 6, 2023, the Maine House of Representatives voted to engross the measure by 64-61. On June 7, 2023, the Maine State Senate voted to engross the measure by 22-12.
Governor Janet Mills allowed the bill to become law without her signature on July 27, 2023, thereby delaying the vote on the measure until 2024 rather than 2023. A spokesperson for the governor's office said, "Rather than sign the bill and rush the question to ballot in little more than three months, she will allow the bill to become law – which means, barring any other legislative action, it will take effect next year and the question will be put to voters in November 2024 – to allow time for robust public debate and discussion on all sides of the issue. The Maine State flag is an important part of our state’s identity and culture, and the Governor believes it is appropriate for the people of Maine to decide whether it should be changed."[6]
The Maine State Legislature voted to delay the referendum until 2026. On April 1, 2024, the Maine State Senate voted 20-13 to move the referendum to 2026. The House voted to delay the referendum on April 2, 2024 without a roll call.[13] On May 10, the Senate initially voted 12-20 to push the referendum to 2026, failing the vote, but reconsidered the vote that evening and passed the measure by 18-12.[14] Gov. Janet Mills withheld her signature from this bill, allowing the referendum to go on the 2024 ballot.[15]
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Maine
Click "Show" to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Maine.
| How to cast a vote in Maine | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll timesIn Maine, municipalities with a population of 500 or more open their polls between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., while municipalities with a population of less than 500 open their polls between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. All polls close at 8:00 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[16] Registration
To register to vote in Maine, one must be "a United States citizen, at least 16 years of age to pre-register to vote, and have established a fixed principal home in Maine. To vote in a Referendum or General Election, you must be registered in the community where you reside, and be at least 18 years of age. A 17 year old may vote in a Primary Election, if that person will be 18 by the General Election."[17] Voters can return completed registration cards in person or by mail to their town office or city hall, any Motor Vehicle branch office, most state & federal social service agencies, or a voter registration drive. There is no deadline for voter registration if completed in person. If registering by mail, the deadline is 21 days prior to the election.[17] When registering for the first time in Maine, voters must provide documents verifying their identity and residence. The following documents are acceptable identification for the purpose of registering to vote:
Automatic registrationOn June 19, 2019, Gov. Janet Mills signed an automatic voter registration bill into law that was scheduled for implementation in 2022. The law registers voters through the Department of Motor Vehicles.[18] Online registration
Maine has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Governor Janet T. Mills (D) signed L.D. 126 into law on July 9, 2021, allowing online voter registration in Maine. This legislation went into effect on November 1, 2023.[19] Same-day registrationMaine allows same-day voter registration.[17][20] Residency requirementsTo register to vote in Maine, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. Verification of citizenshipMaine does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Voter ID requirementsMaine does not require voters to present identification while voting. If a voter registers to vote on Election Day, he or she must provide identification and proof of residence.[21] | |||||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Britannica, "Flag of Maine," accessed July 31, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Maine State Legislature ,"LD 86," accessed June 15, 2023
- ↑ Britannica, "Flag of Maine," accessed July 31, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Portland Press Herald, "Unfurling the facts in the 1901 Maine state flag debate," August 13, 2023
- ↑ Press Herald, "Yet another wrinkle in state flag debate: a design contest," June 13, 2024
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 News Center Maine, "Voters to decide next year whether to adopt 1901 Maine state flag," accessed July 27, 2023
- ↑ Maine Campaign Finance, "Maine Ethics Commission," accessed August 2, 2023
- ↑ Britannica, "Flag of Maine," accessed July 31, 2023
- ↑ Britannica, "Flag of Maine," accessed July 31, 2023
- ↑ Maine Flag Company, "Original Maine Flag," accessed Aug 2, 2023
- ↑ 1901 Original Maine Flag, "Original Maine Flag," accessed Aug 15, 2023
- ↑ Utah Lieutenant Governor, "Restoring the Utah State Flag Initiative," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Lawmakers agree to push Maine’s state flag referendum to 2026," April 1, 2024
- ↑ Maine State Legislature, "HP 288, LD 471," accessed May 13, 2024
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Yet another wrinkle in state flag debate: a design contest," June 13, 2024
- ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 21-A, Chapter 9, Section 626," accessed April 14, 2023
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, "State of Maine Voter Guide," accessed April 14, 2023
- ↑ WMTW 8, “Maine governor signs automatic voter registration bill into law,” June 21, 2019
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "H.P. 804 - L.D. 1126: An Act To Update the Voter Registration Process," accessed June 8, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same Day Voter Registration," accessed January 31, 2023
- ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "Your Right to Vote in Maine," accessed April 15, 2023
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