Your voting rights are under attack

Become an Ambassador to Protect Absentee Voting

This November, a ballot question will ask voters if they want to make big changes to Maine’s elections that attack our voting rights and absentee voting. The Save Maine Absentee Voting campaign, of which the League is a member, is working hard to inform our fellow Mainers about this bad legislation and encourage them to vote no. Want to learn more about the campaign and become an ambassador? There are several upcoming training sessions. Register below:

Fair, secure, and accessible elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. But a referendum question coming to Maine voters in November 2025 takes aim at Maine’s safe and secure voting system, including absentee voting. This referendum would make it harder for people across the state to vote – especially seniors, Mainers with a disability, and Mainers without reliable transportation.

On May 5, the office of the Secretary of State released finalized language for the referendum as it will appear on the November ballot. The question 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?”

It takes away local control by:

• Limiting the number of secure ballot drop-off boxes a town may offer
• Second-guessing town clerks, requiring a two-person, bipartisan team to check ballot boxes, instead of the clerk or a trusted member of their staff. This restriction will place undue pressure on town clerks, and will lead to many towns simply getting rid of their secure drop boxes.
• Prohibiting towns from including return postage on absentee ballots, even if taxpayers vote to fund it.
• Preventing you from calling your town clerk to request a ballot, making it harder for those without reliable transportation or internet to request an absentee ballot.

• It eliminates ongoing absentee ballots, even though this has been a boon for Maine seniors and Mainers with disabilities.
• It shortens the time period for early absentee voting by two days – two of the most popular days for early absentee voting.

This measure isn’t right for Maine. We all want our elections to be as secure as possible. Instead of making it harder for Maine citizens to vote and tying the hands of our town clerks, we should focus on giving state and local elections officials the resources they need.