Augusta, Maine –Yesterday, Donald Trump once again attacked absentee voting, pledging to eliminate it nationwide—even though he has used absentee ballots himself and has encouraged his supporters to vote absentee. His hypocrisy shows what Republicans really want: to make it harder for everyday Americans to vote.

Maine Republicans are furthering Trump’s agenda; they’re using big out-of-state money to attempt to gut Maine’s absentee voting system via Question 1, which is on Maine’s ballot this November. If passed, Question 1 would slash absentee voting days, end ongoing absentee status for seniors and people with disabilities, and restrict drop boxes to one per municipality – no matter how rural or urban the area.

“What we know is that 40% of Mainers of all political parties voted absentee in 2024,” said Devon Murphy-Anderson, Maine Democratic Party Executive Director. “We’re sick and tired of Republicans’ relentless attacks on working families – and that’s what Question 1 is: an attack on the voting rights of seniors, rural voters and working people.”

The Maine Democratic Party has launched a six-figure field campaign focused on talking with voters about how Question 1 seeks to harm Maine’s secure and popular absentee system. The MDP’s field team is spread out across the state and has already knocked on thousands of doors with expected program growth this fall.

“Thousands of Mainers would find it difficult or impossible to exercise their right to vote without absentee voting,” said MDP Chair, Charlie Dingman. “Trump’s threat to absentee ballot access and the Maine Republicans’ referendum to hamstring it are about the same thing: silencing voters. We urge Mainers to vote NO on Question 1 this November to defend absentee voting for all eligible voters in Maine.”