Maine Investigatesโข Mishandled Absentee Ballots, Assures Votersโ of Secure โElection
AUGUSTA, ME – Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows addressed concerns regarding the security of the state’s absentee voting process Monday, following an incident in Newburgh where a resident received a package containing 250 blank absentee ballots. The package appeared to have been opened and resealed.
The ballots have been secured and turned over to the Newburgh โTown Office. Bellows confirmed the FBIโ is assisting in an investigation into how the โballots ended up โขat a private residence. State Republican legislative leaders have called for a โfull federal investigation.
“It’sโ veryโฃ unsettling toโค have 250 ballots turn up in someone’s delivery,” stated Republican House Minority Leader Billy โBob Faulkingham.โ “Everybody in the state of Maine,across political parties,wants an answer to this.”
Bellows emphasized that maintaining secure andโฃ fairโ elections is her office’s top priority, and warned anyone involved in theโค mishandling of ballots would face consequences. “To any bad actors involved, you will be caught and you will be punished. You obviously didn’t understand the โchecks and โคbalances in Maine elections if you thought you could stop absentee voting or shake our faith in fairโ and free elections,” sheโค said.
Investigation details revealed a potential connection to a discrepancy in another town. Bellows stated that the city of Ellsworth reported receiving 250 fewer absentee ballots then expected on the same day the Newburgh resident received the โunexpectedโฃ delivery.
Bellows also noted a delay in official notification. The woman in Newburgh, and โa conservative blogger, were alerted to the issue on Tuesday, but her office and โlaw enforcement were not contacted until Wednesday morning. The blogger reached out to the Secretary of State’s Office at 1:31 a.m.Wednesday, followed by the Newburgh Town Office at 8 a.m.
Despite the incident,Bellows assured Mainersโ that all towns have now received the โcorrect number of absentee ballots,with limited exceptions due to postal service limitations. “The checks and balances worked,” she stated. “Voting started today and we can be โฃassured that โit is free, safe, and secure.”
In-person absentee voting began Monday and will continue โฃthrough โฃThursday, October 30th – five days before the general election.