Question 1 on our state ballot is premised on disinformation. It wants us to believe there’s fraud in Maine’s elections and the hurdles it would bring would reduce that fraud. Neither is true. The real goal here is to discourage voting.
Maine’s election system is among the cleanest in the country. We also lead in voter turnout. One tool that makes this possible is the absentee ballot, used by roughly 60% of all Maine seniors who voted in 2024. Question 1 would eliminate requests for recurring absentee ballots as well as all authorized third-party and phone requests. Ballot boxes and critical voting days would disappear. Identification would become mandatory at the polls, with 28 changes to our elections — none necessary or good.
Democracy is a fragile thing. Maine’s proud history of supporting every voter is threatened when disinformation sows fear and doubt. Please vote “No” on 1.
Cara Ryan
Bar Harbor
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