Opponents of a ballot measure that would require voters to show photo identification and make changes to absentee voting are pouring money into advertising and far outspending supporters in the final days of their campaign.

Save Maine Absentee Voting, the leading group opposed to Question 1, has spent close to $1 million this month alone, while it and nearly a dozen other groups have spent more than $2 million total this election cycle.

Meanwhile, supporters have spent just under $200,000 this month and about $590,000 to date, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.

Question 1, which was put on the Nov. 4 ballot by conservative activists, asks voters if they want to require photo identification in order to cast a ballot and also makes several changes to absentee voting, including eliminating ongoing absentee voting and ending the ability to request an absentee ballot by phone.

It’s one of two statewide questions on the ballot along with Question 2, which will ask voters if they want to approve a so-called red flag law making it easier to confiscate firearms from a person in crisis by allowing family members, in addition to law enforcement, the ability to petition a judge for a temporary removal order. The proposal also would eliminate the requirement for a mental health evaluation as is necessary in Maine’s current law.

The latest campaign finance reports show opponents of Question 1 and supporters of Question 2 are continuing to outraise and outspend the other side on their respective proposals, suggesting they are better positioned to reach and mobilize voters.

Both questions have attracted an influx of out-of-state money, with Question 1 opponents receiving large donations from labor unions and nonprofits, while supporters are largely funded by the Republican State Leadership Committee, a national organization representing state Republican leaders around the country.

Supporters of Question 2, which was put on the ballot by gun safety advocates, have raised around $860,000, including a $190,000 loan from the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, while two opposing groups have raised just over $104,000, with more than half of the money coming from Gun Owners of Maine and the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

UNIONS, NONPROFITS DONATE TO STOP QUESTION 1

Save Absentee Voting is a coalition of advocacy groups including the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, the League of Women Voters of Maine, the Maine AFL-CIO and others opposed to Question 1. They argue that the referendum will make it harder to absentee vote.

Some of the group’s largest recent donations include $100,000 from the National Education Association — a national teachers union; $35,000 from the Service Employees International Union; $15,000 from the American Civil Liberties Union; and $20,000 from Maine Voices Network, a Portland nonprofit dedicated to civic engagement.

The $941,000 the group has reported spending this month has gone largely to television and online ads as well as the costs of postage and mailers.

“A strong coalition of organizations and people have come together to oppose Question 1 and protect absentee voting in the state,” said David Farmer, a spokesperson for Save Maine Absentee Voting said.

Farmer said unions are behind the proposal because they represent thousands of retirees across Maine and because older voters will be especially impacted by the new restrictions on absentee voting.

A coalition of smaller groups also opposed to Question 1 has spent just over an additional $100,000 this month to oppose the question, led by the Democratic Governors’ Association, which has spent close to $235,000 total this year against Question 1.

Supporters of Question 1 say the measure will improve election security and have argued that the changes to absentee voting are needed in order to ensure the ID requirement can be enforced for both in-person and absentee voting. They’ve spent just under $200,000 this month, with that money going to digital advertising, mailers and campaign management services.

Alex Titcomb, principal officer of Voter ID For ME, the only group registered with the state in support of Question 1, said Monday that he isn’t too worried about the funding disparity.

“In our view, it paints the picture that they’re desperate to stop Question 1 from passage,” Titcomb said. “We are a grassroots citizens’ initiative with overwhelming support from Maine people. They think they need all this money to try and stop this proposal that Mainers want.”

SUPPORTERS OF QUESTION 2 OUTRAISE OPPONENTS

Safe Schools, Safe Communities, a group supporting Question 2, has raised $860,000 so far and spent close to $800,000. About one-quarter of that money was spent this month on online advertising, mailers and other campaign costs.

The group’s largest recent donation by far was $100,000 on Oct. 1 from Giffords, a Washington, D.C.-based gun violence prevention organization. They also received $2,500 this month from state Sen. Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, who co-chairs the legislative committee that has taken up red flag proposals recently; and $5,000 from Jordan Wood, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate.

“We’re proud of the fundraising we’ve done, particularly that the vast majority of it is coming from in-state,” said Jack Sorensen, a spokesperson for the Yes on Question 2 campaign. About $500,000 of the money raised by Safe Schools, Safe Communities is from in-state.

Two groups opposing Question 2, Keep Maine Safe and Protect ME − No Red Flag, have raised about $104,000 combined and spent about $47,000 this month on radio and online ads.

Laura Whitcomb, president of Gun Owners of Maine and principal officer for Keep Maine Safe, said the fundraising gap was expected and her group will be working over the next week to continue educating people on the proposal.

“I’m proud of Gun Owners of Maine and the amount of money we’ve been able to save up,” Whitcomb said. “We don’t have any of those $100,000 Giffords donations. The money we’ve spent comes from grassroots.”