U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is urging Mainers to “protect absentee voting” this November.
The Democrat, who represents Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, called Question 1 on the ballot a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
“Proponents say it will make our elections more secure, but the primary effect of its passage would be to make it harder for eligible Mainers to vote in the way that makes sense for them,” Golden said in a Friday statement.
Supporters have framed their discussion about Question 1 as a push to require voters to present identification when they go to cast a ballot. Currently, Mainers are only required to present an ID when they register to vote.
But several other provisions would restrict absentee voting, particularly eliminating telephone applications for absentee ballots and no longer automatically sending absentee ballots to some voters. It also would limit the number of ballot drop boxes to one per municipality, a provision that would primarily affect Portland and Orono, the home to the University of Maine.
While a 2023 University of New Hampshire poll found 63% of Mainers support requiring an ID to vote, the absentee ballot restrictions may prove less palatable given the state’s long history of no-excuse early voting and the popularity of voting via absentee ballot.
Golden noted that absentee voting is a big driver behind Maine’s nation-leading voter turnout. Last year, he said that 45% of Maine votes were cast via absentee ballot and more than half of older Mainers in the 2nd District vote via absentee ballot.
“This initiative would dismantle that absentee voting system that so many Mainers rely on. It would make it harder to vote for rural voters who live far from the polling place, voters with disabilities, seniors and people who work multiple jobs or can’t get away from the workplace on Election Day,” Golden said.
Question 1 is largely driven by The Dinner Table, a group tied to Republican Rep. Laurel Libby. Supporters sued Secretary of State Shenna Bellow over the language that will appear on the ballot, calling it confusing. But the Maine Supreme Judicial Court rejected their arguments.
The following language for Question 1 will appear on the November ballot: “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?”
Golden said that Mainers are “proud of our democratic culture,” pointing to the tradition of town meetings and high voter turnout.
“I urge all of my fellow Mainers to vote ‘No’ on Question 1 to protect absentee voting,” he said.