• Read more about Bellows confirms No Labels Party as newly Qualified Party in Maine

AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has confirmed the No Labels Party as a Qualified Party in Maine.

The party submitted the State of Maine Certification of Enrollment Requirement to Form a New Party by Party Enrollment form on Dec. 13, 2023. This triggered a review of the number of party enrollees to ensure that No Labels had at least the required 5,000 voters enrolled in the Party to qualify the party to participate in the Primary Election to be held June 11, 2024.

As of January 2, 2024, there were 9,423 Maine voters enrolled in the No Labels Party.

• Read more about Citizen's Guide to the 2023 Maine Referendum Election now available online

AUGUSTA — As Election Day nears on November 7, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is reminding all Maine voters of a non-partisan resource that can help them make informed decisions at the polls: the 2023 Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election.

• Read more about Public Comment Periods Now Open on Wording of Ballot Questions

AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is now accepting public comment on the wording of two citizen initiative questions that will appear on the November 7, 2023 Referendum Election ballot, unless enacted by the Legislature as written.

The department’s Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions has certified two citizen initiatives, as follows:

• Read more about Citizen Initiative Regarding Voter Approval for Certain Public Borrowing Found Valid with 68,807 Signatures

AUGUSTA — The citizen initiative petition regarding voter approval for certain public borrowing has been found valid, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows confirmed today.

The petitions for “An Act To Require Voter Approval of Certain Borrowing by Government-controlled Entities and Utilities and To Provide Voters More Information Regarding that Borrowing” had been in circulation since December 7, 2021. On December 27, 2022 the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions received 28,238 petition forms with 93,837 signatures of voters who support the initiative.

• Read more about Hearing scheduled for challenges to Trump primary nomination petition

A hearing regarding challenges to the Primary Nomination Petition of Donald J. Trump in Maine’s Presidential Primary Election will be held at 10:00 a.m. on December 15, 2023 at the Maine State House, Room 228. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows will serve as the Presiding Officer at the hearing.

Three challenges were received by the Secretary of State last week from Benjamin Gaines (on behalf of Kimberley Rosen, Thomas Saviello, and Ethan Strimling), Paul Gordon, and Mary Anne Royal.

• Read more about Maine to defend voter privacy law before First Circuit Thursday

AUGUSTA — On October 5, the First Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in a case where a Virginia-based nonprofit, Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) will argue that a 2021 Maine law which prevents online doxing of Maine voters should not apply to their activities.

• Read more about Secretary Bellows statement about protecting the freedom to vote

AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows released the below statement today regarding the importance of protecting the freedom to vote for all Maine voters.

• Read more about Secretary Bellows testifies in opposition to legislation requiring voters to show specific ID to receive a ballot

AUGUSTA — On Monday Secretary of State Shenna Bellows testified in opposition to legislation which would require Maine voters to provide specific types of IDs to receive a ballot.

• Read more about Maine receives $1M federal appropriation for Election Security

AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced Monday that Maine received an award of $1,000,000 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 for Election Security.

"Ongoing investment in election infrastructure is vital for Maine to continue being a national leader in election administration," said Secretary Bellows. "We’re glad to see this investment from the federal government so that we have the resources to protect the integrity of Maine elections."

• Read more about November 2023 Referendum Election ballot order of questions announced

The order of questions on the November 2023 Referendum Election ballot has been determined through a public lottery held by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Deputy Secretary of State for Corporations, Elections and Commissions Julie Flynn Thursday morning.

A video of the lottery is available to view on the Department’s Facebook page.