Maine students overwhelmingly rejected the voter ID referendum in a mock election Tuesday.
It was the first time that students have participated in an off-year mock referendum election.
Tuesday’s mock election asked students whether they supported Question 1’s proposal to require voters to show an ID when casting a ballot and a host of changes to absentee voting; whether they support adopting Question 2’s “red flag” law; and whether they believe the language of the Declaration of Independence is still relevant today.
On Question 1, the students rejected the changes to Maine’s voting laws 65% to 35%, while students backed the red flag referendum by an even wider margin, with nearly 80% in favor, according to the results released Wednesday morning by the Maine secretary of state’s office.
Nearly 71% of participating students said they still feel the language of the Declaration of Independence is relevant today.
“Participating in a mock election is a fun, hands-on way for students to learn about voting and our electoral system,” Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in a statement. “This was the first year we’ve held a mock election surrounding a referendum election rather than a general election, and we also added a question that ties in with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation. The interest and engagement of students of all ages was amazing and what a testament to their teachers for using the election process to create engaging and educational lesson plans.”
Nearly 80 schools across Maine participated in Tuesday’s mock election. Of those, 29 reported results before Wednesday morning.
Supporters have framed their discussion about Question 1 as a push to require voters to present identification when they go to cast a ballot. Currently, Mainers are only required to present an ID when they register to vote.
But several other provisions would restrict absentee voting, particularly eliminating telephone applications for absentee ballots and no longer automatically sending absentee ballots to some voters. It also would limit the number of ballot drop boxes to one per municipality, a provision that would primarily affect Portland and Orono, the home to the University of Maine.
While a 2023 University of New Hampshire poll found 63% of Mainers support requiring an ID to vote, the absentee ballot restrictions may prove less palatable given the state’s long history of no-excuse early voting and the popularity of voting via absentee ballot.
A red-flag law, also known as an extreme risk protection order, allows families to petition a judge to take away a relative’s guns when they pose a danger to themselves and others. It was among a slew of gun control bills introduced in the Legislative session in response to the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston that left 18 people dead and 13 wounded.
That proposal failed in the Legislature, spurring the referendum drive. Lawmakers made tweaks to the state’s yellow flag law, which has been used more than 1,000, the vast bulk of its use coming directly after the 2023 mass shooting.
