Mainers protect voting rights and reject Question 1
Today, Maine voters rejected Question 1, a ballot measure that would have implemented a highly restrictive voter ID law and stripped away popular aspects of absentee voting. This is a win for voting rights and for Maine voters.
“Question 1 was a voter suppression bill that would have erected unnecessary barriers to voting,” said Jen Lancaster, Communications Director for the League of Women Voters of Maine (LWVME). “A large number of Maine voters depend on absentee voting to cast their ballot. It’s important to protect this vital service and not dismantle it piece by piece.”
By rejecting Question 1, Maine voters demonstrate that they are confident in our secure electoral process and trust Maine to run smooth, transparent, and accessible elections.
LWVME will continue to watchdog and fight federal and state legislation that attempt to make it harder to vote in Maine. The League supports full voter participation by all eligible American citizens.
The League of Women Voters of Maine is part of the Save Maine Absentee Voting coalition, which includes 35 nonprofit organizations from across Maine as well as national partners. Coalition members believe that fair, open, and accessible elections are the cornerstone of our democracy.
Election Observation
LWVME deployed nonpartisan volunteer election observers to provide real time reports from various polling locations in towns around the state, representing all 16 counties and approximately 43% of Maine’s total population. This included an organized effort of more than 70 volunteers.
This preliminary data includes information on the rate at which voters are arriving to vote, the time voters waited in line to cast their ballots, and whether any irregularities were observed at the polls. Voting in Maine is usually a small town affair. People are excited to cast their ballots, first time voters are cheered on, and poll workers are accommodating and ready to assist. Voting in Maine is a community activity.
“Our nonpartisan election observers feed us reports of positive voting experiences, friendly poll workers, and democracy in action at the local level,” said Lancaster. This reinforces that voters should have full confidence in the electoral process and that their vote is counted.
No major disruptions to the election process were observed across the state. Of the all polling locations that were monitored by the League on Election Day, observers noted that few locations had a greater than 10 minute wait to vote and only Biddeford had a wait time around 45 minutes. Voter turnout is expected to be between 30-37%, a standard trend in Maine for off-year elections. Typically, about 60% of Maine’s voting-eligible population participate in midterm years and about 75% in presidential years.
Signature Gatherers
Election observers noted the presence of several signature gatherers at polling places in roughly 56 towns for a recently approved citizens’ initiative that would limit school participation in sports based on sex.
Town Clerks
Behind the scenes, municipal clerks and their staff have been working long, stressful hours for months to ensure that Maine’s elections remain secure, accessible, and safe. One observer reported that: “It seemed that the town clerk and everyone else working there was trying hard to make it all run smoothly, and it did.”
Because the work of election administrators is largely invisible, it also goes underappreciated. Partisan campaigns of misinformation have unfairly and inaccurately targeted these dedicated nonpartisan officials. The League thanks Town Clerks and the Secretary of State’s office for their work in ensuring that our elections are transparent and fair.
