PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s elections in recent years have been relatively free of problems, and verified cases of voter fraud are exceedingly rare.
That’s not stopping Republicans from pushing for major changes in the way the state conducts its voting.
Maine is one of two states with election-related initiatives on the Nov. 4 ballot but is putting the most far-reaching measure before voters. In Texas, Republicans are asking voters to make clear in the state constitution that people who are not U.S. citizens are ineligible to vote.
Maine’s Question 1 centers on requiring voter ID, but is more sweeping in nature. The initiative, which has the backing of an influential conservative group in the state, also would limit the use of drop boxes to just one per municipality and create restrictions for absentee voting even as the practice has been growing in popularity.
Voters in both states will decide on the measures at a time when President Donald Trump continues to lie about widespread fraud leading to his loss in the 2020 presidential election and make unsubstantiated claims about future election-rigging, a strategy that has become routine during election years. Republicans in Congress and state legislatures have been pushing for proof of citizenship requirements to register and vote, but with only limited success.
Maine’s proposal seeks to require voters to produce a voter ID before casting a ballot, a provision that has been adopted in several other states, mostly those controlled by Republicans. In April, Wisconsin voters enshrined that state’s existing voter ID law into the state’s constitution.
Question 1 would eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, and end absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities among other changes.
Gov. Janet Mills is one of many Democrats in the state speaking out against the proposed changes. “Whether you vote in person or by absentee ballot, you can trust that your vote will be counted fairly,” Mills said. “But that fundamental right to vote is under attack from Question 1.”
Proponents of the voter ID push said it’s about shoring up election security. A key supporter of the ballot initiative is Dinner Table PAC, a conservative group in the state.
Meanwhile, in Texas, voters are deciding whether to add wording to the state constitution, a move said to guarantee that noncitizens will not be able to vote in any elections. Thirteen states have made similar changes to their constitutions since North Dakota first did in 2018. Critics say both initiatives are solutions in search of a problem, as voting by noncitizens is exceedingly rare.
The ongoing debate over these measures raises concerns about voter suppression and the validity of claims surrounding election integrity.
That’s not stopping Republicans from pushing for major changes in the way the state conducts its voting.
Maine is one of two states with election-related initiatives on the Nov. 4 ballot but is putting the most far-reaching measure before voters. In Texas, Republicans are asking voters to make clear in the state constitution that people who are not U.S. citizens are ineligible to vote.
Maine’s Question 1 centers on requiring voter ID, but is more sweeping in nature. The initiative, which has the backing of an influential conservative group in the state, also would limit the use of drop boxes to just one per municipality and create restrictions for absentee voting even as the practice has been growing in popularity.
Voters in both states will decide on the measures at a time when President Donald Trump continues to lie about widespread fraud leading to his loss in the 2020 presidential election and make unsubstantiated claims about future election-rigging, a strategy that has become routine during election years. Republicans in Congress and state legislatures have been pushing for proof of citizenship requirements to register and vote, but with only limited success.
Maine’s proposal seeks to require voters to produce a voter ID before casting a ballot, a provision that has been adopted in several other states, mostly those controlled by Republicans. In April, Wisconsin voters enshrined that state’s existing voter ID law into the state’s constitution.
Question 1 would eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, and end absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities among other changes.
Gov. Janet Mills is one of many Democrats in the state speaking out against the proposed changes. “Whether you vote in person or by absentee ballot, you can trust that your vote will be counted fairly,” Mills said. “But that fundamental right to vote is under attack from Question 1.”
Proponents of the voter ID push said it’s about shoring up election security. A key supporter of the ballot initiative is Dinner Table PAC, a conservative group in the state.
Meanwhile, in Texas, voters are deciding whether to add wording to the state constitution, a move said to guarantee that noncitizens will not be able to vote in any elections. Thirteen states have made similar changes to their constitutions since North Dakota first did in 2018. Critics say both initiatives are solutions in search of a problem, as voting by noncitizens is exceedingly rare.
The ongoing debate over these measures raises concerns about voter suppression and the validity of claims surrounding election integrity.
