Maine Rejects Voter ID Requirement, Approves ‘Red Flag’ Gun Safety Measure

Maine voters decisively rejected a voter ID initiative while approving new gun safety measures during Tuesday’s election, reflecting the state’s ongoing debate over voting access and firearm regulations.

The voter identification proposal, known as “Question 1,” was defeated by a significant margin shortly after polls closed. The measure would have implemented strict requirements for both in-person and absentee voting, including mandatory photo identification for all voters. Additionally, it proposed limiting ballot drop boxes to one per municipality and would have required written applications before each election for those voting absentee.

Supporters of the initiative expressed frustration with the outcome. Alex Titcomb, a “Yes on 1” campaign advocate, and Maine State Representative Laurel Libby criticized Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, claiming she had “weaponized the ballot question” from her position of authority.

“Ultimately, Maine voters did not have the opportunity to vote on Voter ID,” they said in a statement to The Portland Press Herald. “The opposition claimed that Question 1 would get rid of absentee voting, and centered their campaign on that fiction. Instead of honestly debating the merits of Voter ID, they spread lies and fear, convincing voters to vote against their own interests.”

Meanwhile, opponents of the measure celebrated the result as a victory for voting access. Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, described the outcome as a “major win for all Mainers” on social media.

“The DNC was proud to support efforts to ensure Mainers have access to the ballot box, including absentee voting,” Martin wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Maine’s vote on voter ID comes amid a nationwide trend of states reconsidering voting procedures following the contentious 2020 election. Currently, 36 states have some form of voter ID requirements, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, though the specifics vary widely.

In a separate but equally significant decision, Maine voters overwhelmingly approved “Question 2,” which establishes what’s commonly known as a “red flag” law. This measure allows for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed to pose “a significant danger of causing physical injury” to themselves or others.

The new provision represents a substantial expansion of Maine’s existing “yellow flag” law, which has a higher threshold for intervention. The current statute requires law enforcement to first take a person into protective custody before they undergo a mental health evaluation. Only after this process can a judge order temporary removal of firearms.

The passage of Question 2 places Maine among a growing number of states implementing red flag laws. According to the Giffords Law Center, 21 states and the District of Columbia now have some version of these extreme risk protection orders, designed to temporarily remove firearms from individuals in crisis.

The dual voting outcomes highlight Maine’s nuanced political landscape, where voters often defy simple partisan categorization. While rejecting the voter ID proposal that was largely backed by conservatives, the same electorate supported strengthened gun regulations, typically associated with progressive policies.

Election officials reported strong turnout across the state for an off-year election, with particularly high participation through early and absentee voting options — the very methods that would have been restricted under Question 1 had it passed.

These results will likely influence upcoming legislative sessions in Augusta, as lawmakers consider how to implement the newly approved gun safety measures while potentially revisiting the voter identification debate in a modified form.