Maine Extend Legislative Term Limits from Four to Six, Question 5 (2007)

Voting on Term Limits Ballot Measures By state By year Not on ballot State legislative term limits Gubernatorial term limits Lieutenant Governors term limits Secretaries of State term limits Attorneys General term limits State executive term limits Local Local term limits Elections and campaigns Local voting laws Laws • History List of measures

The Maine Extend Legislative Term Limits from Four to Six Referendum, also known as Question 5, was on the November 6, 2007 ballot in Maine as a legislatively referred state statute, where it was defeated. The measure would have extended the term limits for state legislators from four to six terms. At the time, both members of the house and senate were limited to four consecutive two year terms. It also would have prevented any person elected to serve a fourth consecutive term as a member of the house or senate in the current legislature, the 123rd, from being elected to the same body in the next legislature.

Election results

Maine Question 5 (2007)
Result		Votes	Percentage
d No		181,588	67.15%
Yes		88,832	32.85%

Election results via: Maine Secretary of State, Elections Division, Referendum Election Tabulations, November 6, 2007

Text of measure

The language appeared on the ballot as:

“

Question 5: Referendum Do you favor extending term limits for Legislators from 4 to 6 terms?

”

Summary

The following description of the intent and content of this ballot measure was provided in the Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election:

“	State law currently limits members of the House and Senate to serving 4 consecutive 2-year terms. This legislation would extend that limit by two terms, so that legislators could serve a total of 6 consecutive 2-year terms in the same legislative body. In years, this means an extension of from 8 to 12 consecutive years in either the House or the Senate. No person elected to serve a fourth consecutive term as a member of the House or Senate in the current Legislature would be eligible to serve as a member of that same body in the next Legislature if this bill becomes effective. This proposal, which was adopted by the Legislature, will not take effect unless it is approved by the voters. A “YES” vote is in favor of the extension of term limits and would approve the legislation extending the limit from 4 to 6 consecutive 2-year terms. A “NO” vote is in opposition to the extension and would leave the current term limits at 4 consecutive 2-year terms.	”
—Office of the Attorney General

Fiscal note

The following fiscal impact statement was provided in the Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election:

“	Passage of this referendum question will not affect state and local expenditures.	”
—Office of Fiscal and Program Review

Support

• Maine League of Women Voters

Arguments

The League of Women Voters put forward the following arguments in favor of Question 5:

“	Term limits make the Legislature less effective. They weaken the Legislature's role in crafting sound policy solutions to complex problems. Under term limits, the Legislature is less representative of the people of Maine.	”
—Maine League of Women Voters

Path to the ballot

The bill to refer Question 5 to the ballot was LD 1928, and was "Passed to be Enacted" and signed by Governor John E. Baldacci on June 29, 2007.

See also

Suggest a link

• Maine 2007 ballot measures
• 2007 ballot measures
• List of Maine ballot measures
• History of Initiative & Referendum in Maine

Suggest a link

External links

• Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election, Tuesday, Nnovember 6, 2007 from Maine Secretary of State
• Referendum Election Tabulations, November 6, 2007 from Maine Secretary of State
• The West End News, "PAC Forms to Oppose Term Limits Extension," August 28, 2007
• Rep. Leila Jane Percy, "The November ballot and term limits," from House Democrats on August 18, 2007
• The Lincoln County News, "PAC Forms to Oppose Term Limit Change," August 8, 2007