Hundreds of Mainers pledge to vote No on Question 1 at Common Ground Country Fair
September 22, 2025
Barbara and Peter Shaw talk with fairgoers at the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity on Sunday.
UNITY – 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.
“The Common Ground Fair is a wonderful event that showcases what makes Maine so special – including how much we all care about defending our fundamental rights. It was great to see so many people stop by to learn more about Question 1 and pledge to protect voting rights for all Maine citizens. If Question 1 becomes law, it will harm countless people across our state, including older and disabled Mainers, but also rural Mainers and working families,” said Jesse Hargrove, president of Maine Education Association, which is part of the Save Maine Absentee Voting coalition.
Hargrove was one of 12 volunteers who staffed the No on 1 table over the full fair weekend.
Question 1 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?”
Maine voters may now request an absentee ballot, either by contacting their local municipal office or by going to JustVoteME.org. Ballots will be sent out in early October, at which time in-person absentee voting will begin. Mainers who need to register to vote or update their registration may do so online at https://registertovote.sos.maine.gov, in-person at their town clerk’s office, or at their polling location on Election Day.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The Save Maine Absentee Voting coalition is a diverse, nonpartisan group of organizations from across Maine who believe that fair, secure, and accessible elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. To learn more and see a full list of coalition members, go to www.saveabsentee.me.
