A Democratic lawmaker has been summoned by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly violating Maine election law during an April 4 local election in Blue Hill.
Rep. Nina Milliken( D-Blue Hill) is accused of standing in the doorway of the Blue Hill municipal building during the election and urging passersby to vote for her friend and political ally, Amanda Woog, who later won a seat on the select board, according to multiple sources familiar with the case.
“[W]hile within 250 feet of the entrance to the voting place, as well as within the voting place itself, Nina A. Milliken, attempted to influence another person’s decision regarding a candidate or ballot issue,” the criminal complaint against Milliken states.
An initial investigation, based on witness testimony, found multiple people who corroborated allegations that Milliken campaigned and pressured voters inside the polling location.
Assistant District Attorney Kirk Bloomer has taken over the case and will proceed under the supervision of Waldo/Knox/Lincoln County District Attorney Natasha Irving, as Hancock County District Attorney Robert Granger had to recuse himself from the case.
Under Maine law (Title 21-A, §682), political activities are prohibited within 250 feet of a polling place. Electioneering inside that zone — including attempts to influence votes, displaying campaign materials, or wearing large campaign buttons — is barred.
Witnesses said Milliken’s actions occurred directly inside the polling place, falling well within the prohibited zone. Violations are classified as a Class E crime, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. In practice, enforcement often begins with warnings or removal by election officials.
A source familiar with the incident said the town clerk warned Milliken several times to stop pressuring voters inside the municipal office, but nevertheless she persisted.
According to the complaint, no jail has been requested.
Milliken will be arraigned on Oct. 7 at 8:30 am at Hancock County Court.
The legal troubles add to a colorful legislative year for Milliken.
Earlier in the session, she drew attention for remarks about what she described as “deer don’t tend to go up north,” despite the region’s sizable deer population.
She was also chastised by a bipartisan group of lawmakers for social media posts sympathizing with Assata Shakur, a.k.a. the infamous cop-killer Joanne Chesimard.
In addition, Milliken endorsed a bill seeking to legalize recreational use of psilocybin, commonly known as “magic mushrooms,” remarking during a legislative hearing that hallucinating on the psychedelic fungi would be much better if you didn’t have to worry about getting arrested.
