Maine Supreme Court Shuts Down Right-Wing Rewrite of Anti-Voting Initiative

The Maine Supreme Court ruled Friday that the language for a high-stakes ballot question — approved by the state’s Democratic Secretary of State —  will appear on the November ballot without changes, rejecting right-wing efforts to rewrite it.

The Republican-backed initiative would impose strict voter ID requirements and severely restrict absentee voting. Conservatives challenged the ballot question’s wording, calling it “misleading.” 

In a win for Maine voters — and for using clear language, not euphemisms, to describe voter suppression — the court disagreed.

“Although the question is longer than most have been in the past, that is because it lists the salient features of the legislation in short, easily understood phrases,” the court argued. “The wording may be complex, but it is not complicated.”

In affirming the ballot language, the court emphasized that Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ wording reflects the full scope of changes proposed.

“The Secretary’s question is understandable to a reasonable voter reading the question for the first time,” the court wrote. “It will not mislead a reasonable voter who understands the proposed legislation into voting contrary to that voter’s wishes.”

Voting rights advocates warn the proposed law does more than require ID at the polls. It also eliminates the right to request an absentee ballot by phone or through a family member, ends prepaid postage for mail-in ballots, limits drop boxes to one per municipality and repeals ongoing absentee voting for seniors and people with disabilities.

While conservatives sought to elevate the voter ID component above all else, the court upheld the Secretary’s decision to begin with absentee voting changes instead, noting they are “more extensive and wide-ranging.”

The final ballot question, which voters will see this fall, reads:

“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?”