On November 5, Mainers will head to the polls for a general election. And in that election, there’s a referendum on the ballot that may turn some heads. But what is Question 1? The answer is both simple and complicated.

Here’s what to know about this question on the November ballot, and what it means.

2025 Question 1 referendum on the Maine 2025 ballot

Here’s the exact wording of Question 1 on the upcoming Maine ballot:

“Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”  

What this means is that by voting yes, you would be approving changes to Maine’s voter laws. Such as requiring voters to provide proof of photo ID to vote absentee and in person. Not allowing the immediate family of absentee voters to deliver their ballot to a secure ballot box, as well as removing the ability for municipalities to request additional ballot boxes. It would require election officials to collect absentee ballots from drop boxes, and it would prevent senior citizens from being able to sign up to be automatically given an absentee ballot. 

In layman’s terms. What this means is that Question 1 would require voters to submit a written application to receive an absentee ballot each election cycle, as well as provide proof of photo ID to be allowed to vote both in person and by absentee ballot. 

Question 1 could impact all kinds of Maine voters

This adjustment to Maine voting laws would significantly impact people with disabilities as well as out-of-state voters, such as college students. As of 9/23/25, there have been 16451 absentee ballot requests for the November ballot, and according to Maine Democratic Party executive director Devon Murphy-Anderson, 40% of Maine’s Population voted absentee in 2024. 
This politicization of absentee voting is relatively new. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, prior to 2020, there was near bipartisan support for absentee voting. People knew that absentee voting is important for many people. That it creates an accessible way of voting for people who can’t make it to the polls for reasons such as being out of state for college or travel, as well as people without transportation. Or people with physical disabilities.

According to The Brennan Center and The Democracy Docket, it wasn’t until the highly polarizing conspiracies spread by President Donald Trump, who was running for reelection at the time, that trust in absentee voting was severed for the Republican Party. In an article done by The Pew Research Center, data shows that in 2018, 57% of republicans said they were in favor of absentee voting, compared to now, they are 20% less likely to say such.

Overall, the consensus on whether or not absentee voting should continue varies by party; however, this doesn’t change the impact it would have on a huge number of people if they were no longer able to vote by mail. College students, the elderly, and the disabled, as well as people without transportation or without the means for getting a valid ID, are all people who would no longer be able to vote in upcoming elections. This means it’s very important that on Nov 5th, everyone who is able to register to vote or is already registered makes it clear what’s important to them on this ballot.