Making Voting Harder: Why Maine's Question 1 is a Step Backwards
The Concerns
Maine's Question 1 on the November ballot is raising alarms among residents. While it claims to improve election integrity, the reality is far different—it introduces unnecessary obstacles to absentee voting, affecting thousands who rely on this system to participate in democracy.
Key Changes Proposed
- Reduces the absentee voting window by two days
- Bans prepaid return postage
- Limits towns to a single drop box
- Ends ongoing absentee status for seniors and people with disabilities
- Introduces a photo ID requirement for absentee ballots, which could cause complications if voters lack the exact ID required.
Who Does This Affect?
For many Mainers, absentee voting is not a convenience—it's a necessity. Those who depend on it include:
- People with long work hours
- Those who travel for work
- Caregivers
- Students
- Deployed service members
Each added step in the process increases the risk of ballots missing deadlines.
The Reality of Mail Voting
Research shows that vote-by-mail is a permanent and mainstream part of U.S. elections. Since 2000, mail voting has tripled and now makes up a large share of ballots nationwide. Security measures for mail ballots are robust, including:
- Signature verification
- Bipartisan processing
- Strict chain-of-custody
Fraud via mail ballots is extremely rare, with large-scale studies consistently finding very low rates.
The Postal Service's Track Record
The USPS has a strong history of delivering ballots:
- 2024: Delivered at least 99.2 million ballots, with 99.88% reaching officials within a week.
- 2022: Nearly 99% of ballots arrived within three days.
Maine voters have embraced absentee voting, with 2024 seeing the second-highest absentee totals in recent presidential cycles.
Why Question 1 Fails
Question 1 does not solve any real problems in Maine. If the goal is to increase confidence in the electoral process, strong processes already exist. If the goal is to boost participation, this measure moves backward by:
- Shrinking the voting window
- Adding paperwork
- Removing conveniences like prepaid postage
- Making it harder for small towns with only one drop box allowed
The Importance of Accessibility
For those who travel for work or have long hours, absentee voting is essential. It allows them to meet their civic obligation without choosing between a paycheck and a polling place.
Democracy should adapt to the lives of the people it serves—not make it harder for them to participate.
