Republicans now have until mid-June to collect nearly 68,000 signatures in their “people’s veto” to stop the state’s $11.3 billion budget from moving forward.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has released the official language of the ballot question that would go before voters if enough signatures are collected.

The question released Tuesday reads: “Do you want to stop most state government operations and programs, including new and ongoing state funding for cities, towns, and schools, by rejecting the state’s two-year budget?”

A group of Republicans filed last month for a “people’s veto” of the two-year state budget passed by Democrats.

The budget is scheduled to take effect on July 1st, but would be blocked if the signature campaign is successful.

The applicants have until 5 p.m. on June 18 to submit at least 67,682 signatures from registered Maine voters to the secretary of state’s office.

If successful, the ballot question would go before voters in November’s election. However, there would be a government shutdown in the interim unless an earlier special election was held, or another budget was passed.

Republicans say they want to avoid a government shutdown and work on a budget that includes their priorities to cut spending and make major changes to the state’s Medicaid program, which is the source of major cost overruns.