The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 9, 2025
We reported recently on a Maine ballot initiative pushing restrictions on voter ID and mail-in voting. Then mysteriously on September 30th, 250 unmarked absentee ballots from Elsworth, Maine showed up in an Amazon package 40 miles away. The plot thickens.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced at a press conference October 6th that both Maine authorities and the FBI were engaged in an investigation.
Elsworth’s town clerk received two boxes of mail ballots September 30th, and notified the Secretary of State Elections Division that one box was missing 250 unmarked mail-in ballots, and that the box’s security tape had been altered. Forty miles away, a Newburgh, Maine resident reported receiving an Amazon package which included her order and the missing 250 ballots. The resident brought the ballots to the Newburgh town clerk, who notified the Elections Division at 8 AM, Oct. 1st. The checks & balances in Maine’s election policies worked.
But that day, pictures of the resident’s beat up and retaped Amazon box surfaced on social media, with messages decrying Maine’s election integrity. The conservative Maine Wire news blog quoted the resident as saying, “I am greatly concerned for our state and its voting requirements.” GOP legislators seized on the missing ballots as proof that Question 1 should be passed.
Secretary of State Bellows remarked, “To any bad actor involved, you will be caught, and you will be punished.” We’ve linked to the local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – (Sept. 26) Restrictions for Mail-In Voting and Voter ID on the Ballot in Maine Nov. 4th Even Though Voter Fraud in Maine is Almost Nonexistent
Maine Public – 250 Ellsworth ballots reported missing the same day as alleged delivery to Newburgh woman
The Maine Wire – Maine Woman Discovers Hundreds of Election Ballots in Amazon Package as State Considers Voter ID
Maine Morning Star – Amid ongoing investigation into found ballots, Sec. Bellows underscores Maine election security
Snopes – Unpacking claim Maine resident found hundreds of ballots in Amazon package
CBS 13 – Sec. Bellows holds press conference to discuss security of absentee voting process
Groups Taking Action:
No on 1, Save Maine Absentee Voting, League of Women Voters ME, AFL-CIO, Disability Rights ME
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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