Maine voted to keep on voting. Good.

Goodbye, Question 1, and good riddance. Now that Question 1 on Maine’s 2025 ballot has been decisively rejected (64.1% to 35.9%), it is worth reflecting on its implications.

This referendum, part of a broader national conservative effort, stands as a notable example of how the citizen-initiated process can be misused. Although it purported to “secure elections,” supporters mainly emphasized the “voter ID” requirement.

However, Maine voters quickly realized that the voter ID was just one part of a troubling and cynical bundle of proposed legislative changes. Contrary to claims by opponents of Shenna Bellows, the initiative’s wording was clear enough to reveal its unappealing nature without any editorial adjustments by the secretary of state’s office.

Laurel Libby said the question had been “weaponized.”

A conservative podcaster interviewed last week expressed strong indignation: “They might as well have worded it, ‘Do you want to murder puppies?'”

For these critics and others who share their view, a full disclosure of Question 1’s wide-ranging contents—too extensive to fit on the ballot paper—would have been enough to alarm any reasonable voter.

Author’s summary: Maine’s rejection of Question 1 highlights voters’ awareness of attempts to exploit election laws under the guise of security, reflecting a defense of fair and honest voting rights.

Central Maine — 2025-11-08

Maine voted to keep on voting. Good.

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