Maine Election Results: Voter ID Rejected, “Red Flag” Laws Approved

Maine voters decided against a voter ID measure while supporting “red flag” gun laws in Tuesday’s off-year election.

The voter ID initiative, labeled “Question 1,” faced significant opposition and was anticipated to fail as soon as the votes were counted. This measure essentially required voters to present a photo ID for both in-person and absentee voting. Additionally, it aimed to restrict the number of drop boxes to one per town and mandated that absentee voters file written applications for every election.

A proponent of “Question 1,” Alex Ticomb, along with Maine Congressman Laurel Libby, criticized Secretary of State Shena Bellows, claiming she misused her influence over the ballot question’s narrative.

They argued that Maine voters were deprived of a fair chance to weigh in on voter ID, stating, “Opposition parties claimed that Question 1 would eliminate absentee voting, which was a central fear-based tactic used to sway voter opinion.” They indicated that instead of addressing the merits of voter ID, opponents resorted to misinformation.

Opponents of “Question 1” believed it would restrict voter access. Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin labeled the outcome a “huge victory for key players involved,” highlighting the DNC’s support for making voting, including absentee options, widely accessible.

Simultaneously, voters in Maine expressed strong favor for “Question 2,” which proposed new laws regarding extreme protection orders, commonly known as “red flag” laws. These laws would prevent an individual from purchasing or possessing firearms if deemed a significant risk to themselves or others, as articulated by Secretary of State Bellows.

Maine already has a “yellow flag” law in place that permits law enforcement to intervene if an individual is thought to pose a danger, although this requires a mental health evaluation before firearms can be temporarily removed.