The Maine State Legislature adjourned on June 25, meaning voters will decide two indirect initiated state statutes at the election on Nov. 4, 2025. Signatures were submitted for two ballot initiatives in Jan. 2025—the Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Dropbox Rules Initiative and Extreme Risk Protection Orders to Restrict Firearms and Weapons Access Initiative. Both surpassed the required threshold of 67,682 valid signatures. In Maine, ballot initiatives follow an indirect process in which proposals are first submitted to the legislature, which has the option to approve them, reject them, take no action, or submit a competing measure. Neither ballot initiative received a legislative vote, allowing both measures to appear on the ballot.

Voter ID Initiative

The political action committee Voter ID for ME is leading the campaign behind the voter identification initiative. The committee raised $555,356 through March 31, the most recent filing deadline. The largest donor is the Republican State Leadership Committee, contributing $500,000.

Supporters of the initiative reported submitting more than 170,000 signatures, of which 86,904 were found valid. In the Legislature, the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee voted ‘Ought Not to Pass,’ and no further action was taken.

The ballot initiative would establish a voter identification requirement. Voters would need to present a valid photographic ID to vote in person. Voters submitting absentee ballots would need to include their driver’s license number, non-driver identification number, or another acceptable photographic identification. The secretary of state would be required to issue free non-driver identification cards to individuals who are at least 18 years old and do not have a valid state driver’s license.

The initiative would also make other changes to election administration policy, including: 

• limiting municipalities to one secured drop box for returning absentee ballots;
• repealing the law that allows voters to request absentee ballots by telephone;
• repealing the provision that allows voters to apply for ongoing absentee voter status;
• repealing the law that allows absentee ballots to be returned via a drop box by a voter’s immediate family member;
• prohibiting public offices from prepaying return postage for absentee ballots; and
• requiring a bipartisan team of election officials, rather than the municipal clerk or designees, to collect ballots from drop boxes.

Currently, Maine has no voter ID requirement. If voters approve the initiative in November, Maine would become the 36th state to require some form of ID to vote, and the 24th to specifically require a photo ID. 

State Rep. Laurel Libby (R-90), who supports the initiative, said that the initiative promotes confidence in the voting process. She said, “Maine people are reasonable. They want to have confidence that we have strong elections in our state, and they understand that requiring an ID to vote is not radical. It’s not extreme. It’s common sense.”

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D), who opposes the initiative, said, “The citizens’ initiative… has so much more that is really problematic. It is a wolf in sheep’s clothing… I think reasonable people may agree on what should be required on Election Day. But this is not that. This is somewhat shocking in the changes it seeks to make to absentee voting.”

Extreme Risk Protection Order Initiative 

The political action committee Safe Schools, Safe Communities is leading the campaign behind the extreme risk protection order (ERPO) initiative. As of Mar. 31, the committee reported receiving about $406,000 in contributions. The largest donors were the Global Impact Social Welfare Fund ($75,000) and Alliance for Gun Responsibility ($26,500).

Supporters of the initiative submitted more than 80,000 signatures, of which 74,888 were found valid. The legislature held a public hearing on the initiative, but no vote was held in either legislative chamber. 

Maine House Republicans proposed a competing measure, which would have increased programs related to the state’s existing yellow-flag law. However, no vote was taken on the competing measure.

The ballot initiative would establish a process for obtaining an ERPO. Sometimes referred to as red-flag laws, ERPOs prohibit an individual from purchasing or possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon. The proposal would allow a family member, household member, or law enforcement official to file an ERPO for an individual.  

If voters approve the initiative, Maine would become the 22nd state to authorize the issue of ERPOs, and the second, after Washington, to do so with the approval of a ballot measure. 

Nacole Palmer, the executive director of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, stated, “We know that Mainers reject a false choice between gun rights and gun responsibility. That we can respect the freedom to own guns, but also respect that communities have the right to feel safe.”

Jerry Reid, chief counsel for Gov. Janet Mills (D), stated, “It is the responsibility of law enforcement, not that of a private citizen, to protect the public. Further, we do not believe a private citizen should be expected to navigate what can be a complex and confusing court procedure by themselves, especially in the middle of already difficult circumstances.”

Potential Constitutional Amendments 

As of June 26, the only ballot measures scheduled for the November 2025 ballot are the two citizen-initiated measures. Additionally, three state constitutional amendments were carried over for consideration in any regular or special legislative sessions in 2025 or 2026.

• Legislative Document 820 would provide a state constitutional right to hunt and fish.
• Legislative Document 1052 would require that the state auditor be elected by state senators and representatives.
• Legislative Document 260 would provide that the equality of rights cannot be denied based on a person’s “actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical or mental disability, ancestry or national origin.”

If the legislature meets again later this year, it could also consider adding general obligation bonds to the ballot.