Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) announced on March 7, 2025, that the signatures for a ballot initiative to create a process for extreme risk protection orders, a firearm regulation policy, were validated, certifying the initiative to the legislature. If the legislature does not approve the measure, it will be placed on the ballot for voters to decide on Nov. 4, 2025.

Secretary Bellows announced that out of the 80,000 signatures submitted in January by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, 74,888 were found valid. At least 67,682 valid signatures were required. Because Maine has an indirect initiative process, the measure will be considered by the state legislature first before it goes to the ballot.

The initiative would establish a process for extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), also known as red flag laws. The process allows for family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to petition a court to restrict an individual’s access to firearms. Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia have extreme risk laws.

Nacole Palmer, executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, said, “With such a high documented rate of danger to our communities we need to have every tool in place in order to prevent these tragedies before they happen. We want to make sure there isn’t another gunman who falls through the cracks.”

Laura Whitcomb, president of the Gun Owners of Maine, which opposes the initiative, said, “While the Maine Gun Safety Coalition continues to utilize emotional pleas in an attempt to manipulate the people of Maine, Gun Owners of Maine will stand ready with the facts, and will continue to defend the rights of responsible gun owners in the face of the anti-gun rights lobby’s attempt to turn Maine into states like New York, Illinois and California.”

The indirect initiative will be sent to the legislature for consideration, and the legislature will have until the end of the legislative session to consider the initiative. It could either approve the initiative or, if it rejects or takes no action on the measure, the initiative would be placed on the ballot for voters to decide. Additionally, the legislature has the option to propose an amended version or a substitute measure to be presented to voters alongside the original initiative.

An initiative that would require voter photo identification could also appear on the ballot on Nov. 4, 2025, in Maine, and is also currently being considered by the legislature.