Question 1 - An Act to Require an Individual to Present Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting

A "YES" vote represents conservative position

  A "NO" vote represents liberal position

BALLOT LANGUAGE

“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 IT MEANS

Yes

A "Yes" vote means that you desire to amend Maine election law to:

  • require photo identification to vote in person or absentee
  • provide free photo identification cards to non-drivers
  • provide one secured drop box in each municipality, which will be located on the property of the registrar's office for the return of absentee ballots, and will be retrieved by a bipartisan team of election officials, ensuring security in the ballot drop off and retrieval process
  • require applications for absentee ballots to be made in writing, in person, by mail, or by electronic form authorized by the Secretary of State, to the registrar of the municipality in which the voter is registered, this ensures security in the absentee ballot application process
  • require that the address at which a voter is registered be on the absentee ballot application

No

A "No" vote means that you desire to retain current Maine election law which:

  • does not require photo identification to vote
  • allows for multiple secured drop boxes in each municipality for the return of absentee ballots, with no requirement for a bipartisan team to retrieve ballots
  • allows for absentee ballot applications by phone
  • does not require that the address at which a voter is registered be on the absentee ballot application

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST

Yes

"To ensure the integrity of every vote, Voter ID for ME requires a valid Photo ID at the time of voting — whether at the polls or by absentee ballot... Voter ID helps prevent impersonation and fraud, enhances public trust in outcomes, and ensures that ballots reflect the will of real, verified voters. This commonsense step protects the democratic process while upholding fairness and accessibility. 

Voter ID for ME strengthens election integrity by ensuring absentee ballots are sent only to voters who request them. By requiring voters to request absentee ballots each election, the risk of ballots being sent to outdated or incorrect addresses is minimized... It’s a proactive step to keep elections secure and responsive to current voter participation, while still protecting absentee voting access." - Voter ID for ME 

[Source]

Every Mainer deserves strong, secure, and trustworthy elections. The YES on 1 Voter ID citizens’ initiative delivers that security by requiring photo identification for both in-person voting and absentee voting...

Importantly, absentee voting remains FULLY available. Every registered Maine voter may still vote absentee, for any reason, just as they can now, by requesting a ballot inperson, online, or via mail in request form...

Showing ID is a simple and common-sense requirement Mainers already have in our daily life, whether cashing a check, boarding a plane, or picking up a package. Voting, our most important civic duty, should be held to that same standard of security...

...Yes on 1 strengthens election integrity, protects every legitimate ballot, and ensures confidence in Maine’s democratic process. It preserves convenience while closing loopholes, giving voters the peace of mind that their voice will be heard and their vote will count." -  Alex Titcomb, Voter ID for ME 

[Source]

“Maine people are reasonable. They want to have confidence that we have strong elections in our state and they understand that requiring an ID to vote is not radical. It’s not extreme. It’s common sense.” - Laurel Libby, Maine State Representative  

[Source]

“These measures will increase security and trust in their handling. These are positive improvements that will strengthen our elections and increase the trust of Maine voters.” - Alex Titcomb, Executive Director, The Dinner Table 

[Source]

No

"..This referendum would make it harder for people across the state to vote – especially seniors, Mainers with a disability, and Mainers without reliable transportation.

This ballot measure is about so much more than just Voter ID. If it passes, many Mainers will see their access to the ballot box unfairly restricted.

This measure isn’t right for Maine. We all want our elections to be as secure as possible. Instead of making it harder for Maine citizens to vote and tying the hands of our town clerks, we should focus on giving state and local elections officials the resources they need.” - Save Maine Absentee Voting    

[Source]

“The voter ID requirement proposed by this campaign would be one of the most restrictive anywhere in the county. It would require photo ID to vote and to vote absentee...

But that’s not all. The legislation behind the referendum is also an attack on absentee voting. ...

Absentee voting is safe and secure and a popular way to vote for many Mainers. We should be looking for ways to make it more convenient for Maine voters to cast their ballots, not putting obstacles in their way. 

Make no mistake: This campaign is a broad attack on voting rights that, if implemented, would disenfranchise many Maine people... These restrictions can and will harm every type of voter, with senior and rural voters experiencing the worst of the disenfranchisement..." - League of Women Voters of Maine  

[Source]

“Maine has a proud history of expanding voting rights, not limiting them...

The voter suppression bill would change all this. It would mandate that everyone show ID to vote in person or absentee (even by mail–what sense does that make?), and dramatically limit acceptable forms of ID... We should be doing more to serve these folks, not making them the target of ineffective, unnecessary voter ID laws.   

The voter suppression measure also turns absentee voting into a bureaucratic nightmare. It makes the application needlessly complicated and limits the ways you can request an absentee ballot...

Voting should be simple, easy, and enjoyable, not complicated and intimidating...” - Maine Conservation Voters  

[Source]

FINANCIAL BACKING

The following information provides insight into the money being spent to pass or defeat the ballot measure.

Yes

MAINE QUESTION 1, REQUIRE VOTER PHOTO ID AND CHANGE ABSENTEE BALLOT AND DROP BOX RULES INITIATIVE (2025)

This question is on the ballot in Maine as an indirect initiated state statute on November 4, 2025.

Committees formed to SUPPORT the "Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Drop Box Rules Initiative (2025)" are: 

VOTER ID FOR ME

Selected Contributions TO: "Voter ID for ME" include:

  • RSLC PAC
  • For Our Future
  • Poliquin for Congress
  • Don Kelly
  • Paul Michaud, Jr.

No

MAINE QUESTION 1, REQUIRE VOTER PHOTO ID AND CHANGE ABSENTEE BALLOT AND DROP BOX RULES INITIATIVE (2025)

This question is on the ballot in Maine as an indirect initiated state statute on November 4, 2025.

Committees formed to OPPOSE the "Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Drop Box Rules Initiative (2025)" are:

SAVE MAINE ABSENTEE VOTING

Selected Contributions TO: "Save Maine Absentee Voting" are:

  • Justin Alford
  • Democracy Fund Voice
  • Michael A Lambert
  • State Democracy Action Fund
  • Linzee Weld

DGA MAINE

Selected Contributions TO: "DGA Maine" are:

  • Democratic Governors Association

DCCC MAINE

Selected Contributions TO: "DCCC Maine" are:

  • Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

MAINE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE

Selected Contributions TO: "Maine People's Alliance" are:

  • The Fairness Project Maine PAC
  • Maine People's Alliance
  • Open Society Policy Center
  • Center for Community Change Action
  • 1630 Fund

OTHER INFORMATION

Yes

“Maine’s Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, has made it clear from the start that she stands in strong opposition to Voter ID...

The Secretary of State is tasked with writing the ballot question for citizens’ initiatives, and in this case she weaponized the process by writing the longest question in Maine history, hiding the main point (Photographic Voter ID) in the end, and falsely highlighting some changes as impacting seniors and disabled, when the law will apply to all and most importantly, SECURE our elections.

An accurate, non-partisan question would have read “Do you want to require photographic identification for the purpose of voting, both in person and absentee, and make other changes to our elections?'" - Voter ID for ME   

[Source]

Another Study Refutes Left’s False Claims Against Voter ID and Secure Elections, The Heritage Foundation 

[Source]

No

Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election

[Source]

Voter ID Laws, National Conference of State Legislatures 

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