An Act To Allow The People To Elect The State Auditor

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by David Boyer and 4 co-sponsors

LD 1068 would make Maine's State Auditor an elected statewide office via referendum, replacing the Legislature's selection, with ballot costs and possible constitutional changes.

Died in Possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and was PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FILES. (DEAD)

#auditor #popularelection #stateofficers

Purpose

LD 1068 proposed to change how Maine’s State Auditor is selected by allowing the position to be filled by a statewide popular election rather than by the current method (selection by the Legislature or other existing process). The bill’s title and fiscal documents indicate the intent was to make the State Auditor an elected statewide office.

Key provisions (as described)

Convert the State Auditor from its current selection process to a position chosen by statewide popular vote.

The bill text itself is not provided in the materials supplied, so specific implementation details (term length, nomination process, qualifications, timing of first election, transition provisions) are not available in the documents reviewed.

Because the change would alter the method of selecting a state officer, the measure would require a public referendum or constitutional amendment procedure; fiscal notes assume a future referendum would be necessary.

Fiscal impact

Two fiscal notes were prepared:

Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement (04/24/2025): Identifies a potential future biennial General Fund cost increase for referendum administration. If the question were placed on the November 2028 general election ballot, the Secretary of State’s existing budget can cover one average-length ballot; if a second ballot is required, an additional appropriation of $341,000 may be needed.
Fiscal Note for a Senate amendment (06/09/2025): States “No fiscal impact” for that amendment. (This reflects a difference between versions; the underlying bill’s committee-level fiscal note still flagged potential referendum costs.)

Primary expected fiscal effect: election/ballot administration costs borne by the Secretary of State if and when a referendum is held.

Who would be affected

Maine voters (would elect the State Auditor if the change were enacted).

The office of the State Auditor (selection method and possibly accountability/role could change).

Secretary of State’s office (election administration and ballot production).

Legislature (loss of its current role in selecting the auditor, if applicable).

Legislative history and status

Introduced: March 14, 2025; referred to the Committee on State and Local Government.

Committee action: Work session held 04/23/2025; committee produced a divided report and later reported out OTP‑AM/ONTP.

Floor actions: Reported and read in June 2025; motion to table pending acceptance of a report.

Final status: Died in possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned sine die on June 25, 2025 — the bill was placed in the legislative files (DEAD).

Notes and uncertainties

The materials do not include the bill text, so precise legal changes (constitutional vs. statutory amendment, timing of first election, candidate nomination rules) cannot be confirmed.

Fiscal impact estimates assume a referendum would be needed and project costs for ballot production/delivery under specified conditions.

Bill