The Secretary of State’s office on Thursday announced the order of two statewide referendum questions — a move that will allow campaigns to begin producing signs and literature ahead of the fall election.

The order of the questions was determined by a public lottery in accordance with state law.

Here’s what voters need to know about each:

QUESTION 1: VOTER ID

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?

WHAT IS IT?

On its face, this question simply requires someone to present a photo ID when casting a ballot. Similar voter ID laws exist in 36 other states.

But it is more than that. It also proposes more restrictions on absentee voting, which is popular in Maine.

The changes would include shortening the time period for absentee voting, prohibiting prepaid postage for returning ballots, and no longer allowing absentee ballots to be requested by phone and immediate family members. It would also end the current system that allows seniors and people with disabilities to automatically receive an absentee ballot, and require them to request a ballot for each election.

Further, the proposal seeks to limit each municipality’s use of ballot drop boxes to one, regardless of size, and require municipalities to have “a bipartisan team of election officials” to collect those ballots, rather than assigning the task to municipal clerks.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Republicans and conservative groups have been pushing for voter ID laws nationwide, even though instances of voter fraud are exceedingly rare. Bills proposed by Republicans in the state Legislature have been blocked by Democrats, who control both chambers and the Blaine House.

The Dinner Table Action political action committee spearheaded the petition process to get the referendum on the ballot this year. That committee is led by Alex Titcomb and is connected with Rep. Laurel Libby, an Auburn Republican who gained national notoriety over her opposition to transgender athletes in girl’s sports and is considering a run for governor next year.

The group’s top donor is the For Our Future PAC, which is also tied to Titcomb and has received significant funding — $375,000 — from the Concord Fund, a group connected to national conservative activist Leonard Leo, who has a home in Maine.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Proponents argue that voter ID is needed to reduce voter fraud. Though they concede that voter fraud is rare in Maine, they argue that a voter ID requirement is needed to reduce the potential for fraud in the future.

Opponents, however, argue that new rules will disenfranchise eligible voters, since some older voters and low-income residents in rural parts of the state may not have the time or the means to get a current ID or meet the requirements to get absentee ballots.

Absentee voting is popular in Maine. During the 2024 presidential election, about 45% of the ballots were cast absentee, which exceeded the national rate of 33%.

WHO IS ADVOCATING FOR AND AGAINST?

Proponents are advocating for the measure through the Voter ID for ME committee, which as of July had received nearly all of its funding — $500,000 of $555,000 — from the Republican State Leadership Committee, a national group focused on state-level Republicans and causes.

Opponents have organized under the Save Absentee Voting committee. More than half of the group’s $605,000 raised as of July 1 came from individuals, primarily wealthy donors cutting large checks, as well as $245,000 from out-of-state and in-state nonprofits that donated not only cash, but in-kind support of staff and grassroots organizing.

Three national Democratic groups also have organized against the proposal: The Democratic Governors Association, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.

QUESTION 2: RED FLAG LAW

Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?

WHAT IS IT?

This question would adopt an extreme risk protection order, also known as a red flag, law in Maine, similar to those that exist in 21 other states and the District of Columbia.

The proposal would allow a family or household member to directly petition a district court judge to temporarily restrict access to firearms of a loved one or roommate who is suspected of being a significant danger to themselves or others.

Petitions would need to be supported by sworn statements. The subject of a petition would have to be notified and would be entitled to a hearing within 14 days before an order could be issued. In emergencies, a court could issue an immediate order restricting firearm access for up to 14 days without first notifying the subject. A subsequent hearing would be needed to extend that order.

A judge could restrict firearm access for up to a year.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Gun safety advocates have tried for years to enact an extreme risk protection order in Maine, most recently in 2018. But Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, worked with law enforcement and sportsmen to create a process that is unique in the nation — one that could only be initiated by law enforcement and that requires a mental health evaluation before a petition may be filed with the court.

This referendum push stems from the Oct. 25, 2023, mass shooting in Lewiston. By all accounts, the shooter, Robert Card, was experiencing a mental health crisis and had made threats in the months leading up to the attack that killed 18 people and wounded 13 others at two separate locations.

Card’s family tried to get him help, but there was no indication that the local sheriff’s office tried to initiate Maine’s existing yellow flag law. Officers conducted a wellness check at his residence, but Card would not answer the door. They then asked Card’s family to remove firearms in his possession, but that didn’t happen.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Advocates say a red flag law is needed because family and household members are often the first to know when a loved one or a roommate is a threat to themselves or others. They also argue that the state’s current yellow flag law stigmatizes people with mental health struggles, who are far more likely to be victims of crimes.

Opponents, however, argue that Maine’s yellow flag law should stand because it provides more due process for the individual subject to the order. They worry that frivolous petitions could be filed as a result of personal disputes, rather than an actual public safety threat.

WHO IS ADVOCATING FOR AND AGAINST?

Safe Schools, Safe Communities is the ballot question committee formed to support the referendum, which was spearheaded by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, an activist group of gun owners, health care professionals, educators, parents and other concerned citizens.

The opposition is being led by two different committees: the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, an influential pro-gun lobbying group that is working through the Protect Me — No Red Flag committee; and Gun Owners of Maine, a nonprofit that advocates for gun rights, which operates the Keep Maine Safe committee.

Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Department of Public Safety also oppose the measure.