2025 Maine Question 1

2025 Maine Question 1

November 4, 2025

Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Dropbox Rules Initiative

Maine Question 1, officially the Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Dropbox Rules Initiative, is an indirect initiated state statute that will appear on the ballot in the U.S. state of Maine on November 4, 2025, concurrent with the 2025 United States elections.

Background

A petition drive was launched by a conservative political action committee (PAC) to gather signatures for the initiative, as the Democratic-controlled Maine Legislature has for years refused to pass similar bills. The signatures were submitted in January 2025, where the initiative then went to the Legislature for consideration. ^{[1] [2]} As the legislature chose not to pass the initiative, it was placed on the 2025 election ballot. ^{[3] [4]}

The conservative PAC that organized the petition drive challenged the wording of the initiative, claiming that it was misleading due to the words "photo ID" only being mentioned in the final sentence. ^[5] The Maine Supreme Court upheld the original wording in July. ^[6]

Text

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? ^[7]

Impact

If passed, the state of Maine would require photo identification for all forms of voting. Photo ID cards would be provided to registered voters who do not have a driver's license. Other changes would also insert partisan officials into certain parts of elections that are now conducted by nonpartisan municipal clerks, among other changes described in the question. ^[8] It would also make it more difficult for voters to request a mail-in ballot, eliminating the ability to request one by phone. ^[9]

Endorsements

Yes

Executive branch officials

• Bobby Charles, former assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (2003–2005) and candidate for governor in 2026 (Republican) ^[10]

State legislators

• Laurel Libby, state representative from the 90th district (2022–present) and 68th district (2020–2022) (Republican) ^[1]

Organizations

• Republican State Leadership Committee ^[10]

Political parties

• Maine Republican Party ^[11]

No

U.S. representatives

• Jared Golden, ME-2 (2019–present) (Democratic) ^[10]
• Chellie Pingree, ME-1 (2009–present) (Democratic) ^[12]

Statewide officials

• Shenna Bellows, Secretary of State of Maine (2021–present) (Democratic) ^[1]
• Janet Mills, Governor of Maine (2019–present) (Democratic) ^[13]

State legislators

• Mattie Daughtry, President of the Maine Senate (2024–present) from the 23rd district (2022–present) and 24th district (2020–2022) (Democratic) ^[12]
• Justin Alfond, former state senator from the 17th district (2008–2016) (Democratic) ^[10]
• Ethan Strimling, former state senator from the 8th district (2003–2009) and former mayor of Portland (2015–2019) (Democratic) ^[10]

Individuals

• Graham Platner, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026 (Democratic) ^[14]

Labor unions

• Maine AFL–CIO ^[10]

Organizations

• American Civil Liberties Union of Maine ^[15]
• League of Women Voters ^[15]
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ^[10]
• Democratic Governors Association Maine ^[10]
• Maine Women's Lobby ^[10]
• Maine Conservation Voters ^[15]
• Natural Resources Council of Maine ^[16]
• VoteRiders ^[17]

Tribes and tribal leaders

• Wabanaki Alliance ^[10]

Political parties

• Maine Democratic Party ^[18]

Newspapers

• Portland Press Herald ^[19]
• Bangor Daily News ^[20]
• Kennebec Journal ^[21]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Yes	No	Undecided
University of New Hampshire [22]	October 16–21, 2025	1,015 (LV)	± 3.1%	48%	49%	3%

Results

2025 Maine Question 1

Choice	Votes	%
Result not yet known
Total votes	—	100.00
Source: [23]

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

References

1. Ohm, Rachel (January 6, 2025). "Supporters of a Maine voter ID law hand in signatures to force referendum". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
2. Emma, Davis (February 19, 2025). "Voter ID initiative headed to Legislature for consideration". Maine Morning Star. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
3. Bonatesta, Lara (July 2, 2025). "Maine voters to decide citizen initiatives on voter ID and extreme risk protection orders in November". Ballotpedia News. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
4. Miller, Kevin (February 19, 2025). "Voter ID campaign qualifies for Maine's fall ballot". Maine Public. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
5. "Conservative group challenges wording of Maine's voter ID ballot question". WGME. May 13, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
6. Mundry, Jackie (July 11, 2025). "Maine Supreme Court upholds voter ID question wording". WMTW. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
7. "Maine high court upholds wording for referendum to require voter ID, change absentee rules". Spectrum News. July 14, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
8. "Maine Question 1, Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Dropbox Rules Initiative (2025)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
9. Burness, Alex (August 27, 2025). "A Ballot Measure Targets Mail Voting in Maine". Bolts. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
10. "Maine Question 1, Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Drop Box Rules Initiative (2025)". Ballotpedia.
11. Bader, Emily (October 5, 2025). "Here's what you need to know about Maine's two ballot questions this November". The Maine Monitor. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
12. Hilton, AnnMarie (October 22, 2025). "What Maine's political leaders think about Question 1 • Maine Morning Star". Maine Morning Star. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
13. Billings, Randy (October 10, 2025). "Gov. Janet Mills urges Maine voters to reject Question 1". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
14. Mistler, Steve (September 23, 2025). "Graham Platner draws hundreds to town hall kick off as Senate bid builds". Maine Public. Retrieved September 25, 2025. On Monday, Platner said that apparatus will soon canvass voters and urge them to vote against Question 1
15. Steinmetz, Channa (August 1, 2025). "Maine voter suppression referendum to appear as Question 1 on ballot". Maine Beacon. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
16. Didisheim, Pete (October 14, 2025). "Vote NO on Question 1 – Save Maine Absentee Voting". Natural Resources Council of Maine. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
17. "The Anti-Voter Referendum on the Ballot in Maine this November Would Be Disastrous for Voters". VoteRiders. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
18. "Protect Absentee Voting in Maine". Maine Democratic Party. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
19. "Vote 'No' on Maine's Question 1 | Editorial". The Portland Press Herald. October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
20. "Reject voting restrictions and give families more options to stop gun violence". Bangor Daily News. October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
21. "2025 ballot measure media endorsements". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
22. "Early Look at Maine Primary Races: Platner Leads Mills, Collins Far Ahead of Unknown GOP Challengers 10/23/2025". October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
23. "Maine Question 1". Associated Press . November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.