A state commission studying Maine’s election rules and procedures will hold a public hearing in Portland Thursday evening.

The Commission to Study the Conduct of Elections in Maine was appointed by Secretary of State Charlie Summers in response to a resolve passed by the Legislature. It is studying voter participation, voter registration and the conduct of elections and will report findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

The public hearing in Portland will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Rines Auditorium on the lower level of the Portland Public Library. Members of the public are invited to present their views, concerns and suggestions about the state’s voting process.

Commission members include former Superior Court Judge John Atwood; attorney and former Bangor Mayor Larry Willey; director of the Maine Seeds of Peace Program Tim Wilson; former Portland and South Portland city clerk Linda Cohen; and former United States Attorney Paula Silsby.