§311. Rules governing

A biennial municipal caucus may be held by any political party for the purpose of electing delegates to a state convention and for any other business governed by the following provisions.   [PL 2005, c. 387, §3 (AMD).]

1.  Call.  The caucus may be called by the chair or a majority of the members of the municipal committee of a political party. If the municipal committee fails to call a caucus, the county committee may call the caucus. At the request of that committee municipal officers shall provide available space in a public building for a caucus. The municipality may charge a rental fee or janitorial service fee for the available space. A municipality may hold its caucus outside the municipality if several municipalities elect to meet on a consolidated basis or if the committee calling the caucus determines that a facility outside the municipality is more suitable.

[PL 2017, c. 248, §4 (AMD).]

2.  Time.  A biennial municipal caucus of any party must be held during the general election year before March 20th.

[PL 2005, c. 387, §3 (AMD).]

3.  Notice.  The secretary of the committee shall have a notice of the caucus published in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality at least 3 and not more than 7 days before it is to be held, or shall post a notice in a conspicuous, public place in each voting district in the municipality at least 7 days before the caucus. The notice must contain the name of the party, the time and place of the caucus and the name of the person calling it.

A. If the notice is not published as required by this subsection, the caucus is void if challenged by any voter eligible to participate in the caucus who was prejudiced by the failure to publish notice.   [PL 2005, c. 387, §3 (AMD).]

B. The secretary of the committee shall file a copy of the notice with the clerk who shall record it.   [PL 2005, c. 387, §3 (AMD).]

[PL 2005, c. 387, §3 (AMD).]

4.  Procedure.  The chair of the municipal committee shall open the caucus. In the chair's absence, the secretary or any resident voter enrolled in the party may open the caucus. The caucus shall elect a secretary and a chair in that order. The chair of the caucus shall then preside over the caucus and the secretary shall record the proceeding of the caucus. The caucus shall determine its own parliamentary procedure.

[PL 2005, c. 387, §3 (AMD).]

5.  If no municipal committee.  If there is no municipal committee, any resident voter enrolled in the party may call a special caucus for the purpose of electing the committee following the notice procedure of subsection 3.

[PL 2005, c. 387, §3 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW). PL 1997, c. 436, §45 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 310, §17 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 387, §3 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 248, §4 (AMD).