News

Mainers reject voter ID, absentee ballot restrictions as Question 1 fails

November 5, 2025

Maine voters resoundingly defeated a ballot initiative on Tuesday that would have required them to show a photo ID during future elections and that sought to rollback aspects of the state’s absentee voting process.

What They’re Saying: Nonprofit organizations urge their members to vote “no” on Question 1

October 31, 2025

Leaders of nonprofit organizations from across Maine – including labor unions, pro-democracy organizations and equal-rights advocates – are urging their members to vote “no” on Question 1 this November.

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‘Vote No on Question 1’: Maine workers, nurses and retirees say proposal would make it harder to vote

October 28, 2025

At a press conference Tuesday hosted by the Save Maine Absentee Voting campaign and labor organizations across the state, speakers urged Mainers to vote “No” on Question 1, explaining how the measure would roll back Maine’s long-standing absentee voting system and create new barriers for working people, older Mainers, and those living in rural communities.

Editorial: Vote no on 1

October 25, 2025

Maine elections are secure and draw strong turnout. With that track record, why would we make voting more difficult, especially for our most vulnerable? Rather than creating unnecessary hoops for Mainers to jump through, proponents should first have determined if they could truly ID a problem with our current system. Protect elections by protecting access. Vote no on 1.

Editorial: Vote ‘No’ on Maine’s Question 1

October 17, 2025

Last year, more people turned out to vote in Maine than ever before. In recent years, Maine has ranked at or near the top for voter turnout nationally. We’re interested in voting here and we’re pretty good at it.

The citizen-initiated referendum question on this year’s state ballot, however, would put even the most staunch civic commitment to the test.

More from: Portland Press Herald →

Editorial: Reject voting restrictions and give families more options to stop gun violence

October 17, 2025

This citizen-initiated question is very long for good reason. Although it is billed by its supporters as a question about voter ID, it does much more. Particularly, it will restrict absentee voting.

None of these changes are necessary. Even the backers of Question 1 acknowledge that voter fraud is not a problem in Maine.

Golden will vote ‘No’ on Question 1 to save absentee voting

October 17, 2025

Congressman Jared Golden said in a statement, “Question 1 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Proponents say it will make our elections more secure, but the primary effect of its passage would be to make it harder for eligible Mainers to vote in the way that makes sense for them."

Longtime GOP community leader Joyce Maker speaks out against Question 1

October 16, 2025

Longtime Republican community leader – former state senator, state representative, member of the Calais Town Council and School Board – Joyce Maker has joined a growing list of leaders in Maine who are urging Maine to vote “no” on Question 1.

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No on 1 Campaign releases ad urging voters to reject attack on absentee voting

October 8, 2025

Save Maine Absentee Voting today released its first ad urging voters to vote “no” on Question 1 in November. The ad features Bud Bailey, 82, a retired veteran and Whitefield resident, discussing why absentee voting matters for Maine.

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Maine Calling: Ballot Question 1 discussion

October 7, 2025

Our campaign manager David Farmer joins Maine Calling to talk about Question 1 and why we're asking voters to vote No.

Maine’s early voting starts today, and the future of absentee voting is on the ballot

October 6, 2025

Mainers can now cast their ballots early, with in-person absentee voting officially underway at municipal clerks’ offices across the state.

Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election

September 25, 2025

The information in this booklet is intended to help voters learn about the questions that will appear on the November 4, 2025 Referendum Election ballot.

More from: Maine Secretary of State's Office →

Hundreds of Mainers pledge to vote No on Question 1 at Common Ground Country Fair

September 22, 2025

During the Common Ground Country Fair, one of the largest annual events in Maine, voters had the opportunity to stop by the Save Maine Absentee Voting table, or a coalition member’s table, and more than 400 voters pledged to vote No on Question 1 this November.

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Mainers can now request absentee ballots for the November election

August 27, 2025

Maine voters can now request absentee ballots for the Nov. 4 election.

The ballots won’t be available until early October, but Maine law allows for people to request them three months before the election. Absentee ballots can be requested online or by contacting the local municipal clerk.

Mainers like absentee voting. Question 1 would make that option harder.

August 21, 2025

If passed, Question 1 would prohibit voters from requesting absentee ballots by phone, and would require older Mainers and those with disabilities to renew their eligibility each year. The proposal also would limit the number of drop boxes municipalities are allowed to have and prohibit them from including prepaid return postage.

More from: Portland Press Herald →

Podcast: The battles over health insurance and voting rights in Maine

August 8, 2025

Maine Beacon Podcast hosts Ben, Cate and Channa discuss Maine’s upcoming Ballot Question 1,a voter suppression measure they say would gut absentee voting, and call to vote “no” in order to protect voting rights.

Opinion: My right to an accessible, private vote is on the ballot this November

August 4, 2025

From Noah T. Carver of Beals Island: "Thanks to Disability Rights Maine and Maine’s secretary of state, I, a Blind man, receive an accessible computerized absentee ballot, vote privately and independently using screen reading software and a Braille display, then electronically return it. In this way, all Blind or DeafBlind Mainers have an equitable right to vote, and this fills me with tremendous pride. But this November, that could change, and Maine voters must stop it."

What Maine voters need to know about upcoming referendum questions

July 31, 2025

The secretary of state's office announced Thursday that Question 1 on the November ballot will be the proposed changes to voting laws and Question 2 asks voters to approve or reject a proposed red flag law. The Portland Press Herald's Randy Billings gives a strong overview of the ballot questions and what they Maine for Maine voters.

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Voting restriction referendum to be Question 1 on statewide ballot

July 31, 2025

The Maine Secretary of State’s Office announced the order of upcoming referendum questions that will appear on statewide ballots in the Nov. 4, 2025, election. The voter restriction referendum, which would dismantle Maine’s absentee voting system, will be Question 1.

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Opinion: Maine Republicans Are Asking Voters to Restrict Their Own Rights

July 29, 2025

From Robert Conlin: "In November, Mainers will be faced with a ballot initiative that would radically restrict voting rules in the state, and which is modeled after restrictive voting laws passed in Ohio, Georgia and elsewhere.

"If approved by voters, the measure would impose onerous new voting restrictions, including requiring government-issued photo ID, cutting two days of absentee voting, banning absentee ballot requests made by phone, requiring seniors to re-apply to vote absentee, and limiting the number of dropboxes available to voters."

Opinion: With Maine voter ID referendum, democracy is in the details

July 23, 2025

From Sen. Jill Duson, D-Portland: "Here in Maine, we enjoy some of the strongest voting laws in the country. As a result, our voter participation ranks among the highest nationally, in every election. Our laws demonstrate that Mainers value everyone’s voice and vote. Honoring everyone’s voice also means acknowledging the individual challenges we all face. Our voting laws reflect this, which is why, in Maine, absentee voting is broadly used and incredibly popular."

More from: Portland Press Herald →

Press Release: Maine Supreme Court upholds clear, direct wording for voter suppression referendum

July 11, 2025

The Maine Supreme Court issued a ruling upholding finalized ballot language for a referendum that attacks Maine’s absentee voting system. The wording had been challenged by the Ballot Question Committee known as Voter ID for ME, which lost on a ruling from the Maine Superior Court in June and its subsequent appeal.

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