elections

The incident, in which 250 ballots were reportedly found inside an Amazon box that had been tampered with, has prompted conservatives to call for a federal investigation and for the resignation of Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.

Rep. Ed Crockett says he unenrolled as a Democrat to run as an independent because he feels both major parties have "lost their way" and become too entrenched in partisan sniping to get things done.

The governor was responding to the Trump administration's latest lawsuit against Maine, this time seeking complete copies of the state's voter registration files.

Daira Rodriguez-Smith, who lives in Biddeford, vowed to bring her auditing and financial accountability skills to DC if elected. She is one of eight Democrats — with more potentially coming — hoping to challenge Collins next fall.

The Department of Justice says the detailed data is needed to ensure Maine is accurately maintaining its voter rolls. But Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, says the DOJ is overstepping its bounds as part of a "fishing expedition."

The well-known progressive from Vermont also used the event to boost two Democratic candidates for statewide office in Maine: former Senate President Troy Jackson, who is running for governor, and U.S. Senate hopeful Graham Platner.

President Trump wants to "lead" an effort to bar mail-in voting and voting machines. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says both would be bad ideas.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, instead asked a DOJ official why the department wanted the information, how it would be used and to provide details about which, if any, laws Maine has violated as part of its efforts to maintain voter rolls.

The president's comment on social media came two weeks after the Maine Republican opposed his administration's bill to rescind $9 billion that had already been approved by Congress.

A Voter ID proposal will appear as Question 1 on the ballot while a proposed "red flag" gun law will be Question 2.