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Shenna Bellows is Maine’s 50th secretary of state.
Every Jan. 6, Congress certifies the presidential election by counting the electoral votes. As secretary of state, it was my job in December to convene Maine’s Electoral College and to ensure the transmittal of the official Certificates of Vote to Washington. These electoral processes are not only full of pomp and circumstance, but also deeply meaningful because they represent the fundamental underpinnings of democracy —the peaceful transfer of power and the rule of law.
Unfortunately, despite the peaceful formality of today’s ceremony, Jan. 6 can never again be seen as a day of celebration only. We must remember what was lost on this day four years ago — lives, safety and faith in the integrity of some of our highest institutions.
Today’s civics lesson must include an unvarnished account of what happened on Jan. 6, 2021 when a mob of more than 2,000 people violently attacked the U.S. Capitol with a goal of stopping the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Congress came to a halt, as members of Congress fled and hid in fear. At least 174 police officers were assaulted, and seven lives were lost. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died hours after the attack, having suffered multiple strokes after being pepper sprayed by his attackers who were Americans trying to stop Congress from doing its job to count the votes. Make no mistake: The events of Jan. 6, 2021 were an insurrection.
At Maine State Archives, we hold the official records associated with the history of another insurrection. In 1879 armed citizens descended upon our state capitol angered by the actions of Gov. Alonzo Garcelon who was trying to stay in power despite losing at the polls. The great Civil War General Joshua Chamberlain was summoned to Augusta to defend the Maine State House and keep the peace.
Withstanding threats of assassination and kidnapping, Chamberlain had the courage to stand up against the violence while the election disputes were resolved in the courts. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the votes must be counted, and the peaceful transfer of power took place with a new Legislature and a new governor, Daniel F. Davis. The courts, the rule of law and leaders including Chamberlain won against a charlatan and the mob. When I give students tours of the Maine State House, I tell this story — the whole story of those who attacked democracy and those who defended it in 1879.
A Chamberlain moment is upon us again. Since Jan. 6, 2021, threats of violence have gotten worse, not better. In these times, it takes courage to speak out and to serve in public office whether as a town clerk, a school board member or legislator. Fortunately, we have those heroes from all political parties in towns and cities across Maine and across the nation willing to serve despite the costs to themselves and their families. The election of 2024 witnessed record-breaking turnout here in Maine, and all of us should be incredibly proud of that and of the clerks and election officials who made that possible.
It is tempting to focus only on the positive — regardless of how you feel about any particular outcome, we can all agree that American elections were yet again fair, safe and accurate, and the voters showed up. It’s a testament to our resilience. It may be even more tempting to take the news of record-breaking turnout and the fact that the election is over to check out.
But our resilience is what also allows us to look at the events of Jan. 6, 2021 with clear eyes, to confront the actions of those in power with healthy skepticism, and to insist on the rule of law as we move forward. We must have the courage to face hard truths and to tell them. Like Chamberlain, we must stand up for the rule of law, peaceful resolution of our differences and an end to political violence.
For election officials, our work to administer a free, safe and secure election in 2024 is completed with the successful election certification and the upcoming peaceful transfer of power from President Joe Biden to President-elect Donald Trump. As Americans, our work to protect our democratic republic now and in every election to come begins anew today.
