News

Red Flag Law, voter ID measure appear on Maine ballot this Election Day

Red Flag Law, voter ID measure appear on Maine ballot this Election Day

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


Voters in Maine headed to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on two major questions on the state ballot.

If approved, Question 1 would require voters to show a photo ID at their polling locations and put limits on absentee voting in future elections.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says that no investigations have uncovered widespread voter fraud in the state.

Questions about election security were raised in September when 250 blank absentee ballots were mailed to a woman in Newburgh in an Amazon box, which is still being investigated.

Bellows said there were two instances of people voting twice in the 2020 election, and both people were prosecuted.

Question 2 on the state ballot would establish a Red Flag Law to let family members directly ask courts to temporarily remove guns from people deemed dangerous.

Gun advocates say it could put 2nd Amendment rights in jeopardy, and the state’s existing Yellow Flag Law is enough to prevent gun violence.

Supporters of the measure say it may have prevented the Lewiston mass shooting in 2023 that claimed 18 lives and left 13 people injured.

Since the shooting, the law has been used more than 900 times to take guns out of the hands of people who could pose a threat.

On the local ballot in Portland, voters weighed in on a minimum wage increase.

Question A asked residents if they approve of increasing the city’s minimum wage from $15.50 to $19.00 over several years.

Some voters said they supported the increase, pointing to the rising cost of living in the city.

Many local businessowners said the increase would threaten their business or force them to pass on the added cost to customers.

Latest Headlines

2 days ago in National, Trending

Severe storms continue to produce heavy rain, lightning and flooding across parts of US

Storms barreling across the heart of the United States continued to threaten rain and pose flooding risks Thursday after causing at least one death when a man apparently was struck by lightning in Wisconsin.

2 days ago in National, Trending

Tiger Woods’ lawyer vows to fight subpoena for prescription records in DUI case

Tiger Woods ' attorney intends to fight an attempt by prosecutors to subpoena the golfer's prescription drug records following his arrest last month in Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence.

2 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Anitta, like you’ve never heard her before. The Brazilian superstar talks new album, ‘SNL’ and God

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The lights are low in Studio 8H. All eyes —…

2 days ago in Entertainment

Christopher Nolan brings ‘The Odyssey’ to CinemaCon; Steven Spielberg previews ‘Disclosure Day’

Christopher Nolan gave theater owners a thrilling glimpse of "The Odyssey" on Wednesday evening at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. His adaptation of Homer's epic starring Matt Damon as Odysseus is one of the most hotly anticipated of the year, arriving in theaters on July 17.

2 days ago in Sports, Trending

FIFA president Infantino says Iran will participate in World Cup ‘for sure’ despite war

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran will participate in the World Cup "for sure" despite its war with the United States.