AUGUSTA — The Secretary of State’s Office has released the wording of a November ballot question that seeks to expand the options for removing firearms from those considered a danger to themselves or others.

The Maine Gun Safety Coalition gathered signatures to call for a statewide citizen vote on a measure to give families, in addition to law enforcement, the power to ask a judge to temporarily take someone’s firearms away.

On Monday, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows released the wording of the question: “Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?”

It’s one of two citizen initiatives that will be on the Nov. 4 ballot. The wording of the other question, which seeks to make several changes to the state’s voting laws, is being challenged in court. 

Voter ID for ME filed a petition in Cumberland County Superior Court last week alleging that the wording “misrepresents the ballot question.”

The wording reads: “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”

In response, Bellows said in a statement that she is required to present the question “in a clear, concise and direct manner.”