It’s Time to Restore Trust in Maine’s Elections: Why Voter Confidence is Collapsing and What We Can Do to Fix It

For decades, Mainers have taken pride in local elections: small-town transparency, hand-counted ballots, neighbors watching neighbors do the work.

For decades, Mainers have taken pride in local elections: small-town transparency, hand-counted ballots, neighbors watching neighbors do the work.

But things have changed. And not for the better.

Over the past two years, I’ve spoken with people all across this state. Different towns. Different parties. Same concern:

“I’m not sure I trust our elections anymore.”

And whether those doubts are rooted in personal experience, political news, or just gut instinct, they’re growing. And they matter. Because a free society cannot function if people no longer believe their vote counts.

🔍 The Problem Isn’t Just the Outcome. It’s the Process

Both major parties have accused each other of cheating. Confidence is crumbling. And instead of addressing it, our current Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, has made things worse:

• Tried to unilaterally remove Donald Trump from the ballot

• Opposed voter ID laws, despite bipartisan public support

• Fought efforts to ban non-citizen voting

• Ignored calls for investigations into voter fraud allegations

• Oversees her own re-election without independent oversight

When people are already skeptical, this isn’t how you restore trust.

Where Do We Go from Here?

This isn't about being “far right” or “far left.” It’s about making it possible for everyone to trust the results, even when their side loses.

Here’s what Maine needs now:

✅ Secure Voter ID Mark IDs or licenses to indicate voting eligibility. Make it visible, simple, and verifiable.

✅ Ban Non-Citizen Voting Period. No gray area. No ambiguity. Maine elections should be for Maine citizens.

✅ Return to Paper Ballots + Hand Counts It worked for generations. Let local clerks do their job. Machines and centralized counts only add layers of doubt.

✅ Eliminate Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) It’s confusing, time-consuming, and gives Augusta too much power. One person. One vote. One count.

✅ Clean Up Voter Rolls Every Two Years Remove deceased voters. Update addresses. Ensure the people on the rolls are the ones casting votes.

✅ Make Voting Day a State Holiday Give people the time and recognition they need to cast their ballot. Democracy deserves a day.

This November, We Take the First Step

This fall, Mainers will vote on a Voter ID referendum.

I’m voting YES, not because it’s the final answer, but because it’s the first right step.

You don’t have to believe elections were rigged to believe they should be secure.

Let’s stop ignoring the erosion of public confidence. Let’s start restoring it.

📣 Join the Movement for Honest Elections

Talk to your neighbors, Share this article- Vote YES on the Voter ID referendum this November

Maine deserves a system we can believe in, even when we don’t like the results.