Gov. Janet Mills said Wednesday that voters delivered a clear rebuke to proposed changes to Maine’s absentee voting laws, rejecting Question 1 by a decisive margin in Tuesday’s statewide election.
The measure sought to create a requirement for voters to present identification at the polls and to tighten access to absentee ballots by shortening the period during which voters could request them and by eliminating ongoing absentee status for seniors, people with disabilities, and others who have relied on the system for years.
Supporters of the proposal argued it was needed to strengthen election safeguards, while opponents said it would create new barriers for voters who already face challenges getting to the polls in person.
Mills was among those who urged voters to vote no, saying the proposal represented an unnecessary restriction on voting rights.
“Once again, Maine people have affirmed their faith in our free, fair, and secure elections, in this case by rejecting a direct attempt to restrict voting rights,” Mills said in a statement released after results became clear. She noted that Maine consistently ranks among the highest states for voter participation, crediting easy access to absentee voting as a major factor. “Maine people tonight have said they want to keep it that way,” she said.
Opponents of Question 1 had argued that limiting absentee access would disproportionately affect older voters, rural residents with limited transportation, and individuals working multiple jobs or irregular hours. Local clerks also raised concerns about the administrative burden of changing long-standing procedures.
Unofficial returns Tuesday night showed the measure failing in communities large and small, including both rural towns and Maine’s largest cities. Election officials reported strong turnout, particularly among voters who cast absentee ballots early — the very practice Question 1 sought to restrict.
With the proposal defeated, Maine’s current absentee voting system remains intact, allowing residents to request ballots well ahead of Election Day and permitting ongoing absentee status for those who qualify.
