voting

Maine's secretary of state declined to say whether Maine will get involved in any court battles challenging the executive order but noted that individual states have broad discretion to set their own election laws.

The audit will focus on six legislative races from last year that were within a 5% margin of victory.

Maine traditionally has among the highest voter participation rates in the nation. But the heightened political tensions nationwide have also raised concerns about disruption at the polls.

The report from Colby College also finds generational gaps in civic engagement.

The number of absentee ballots requested so far this election has already topped the total from two years ago when Maine had a hotly contested gubernatorial contest.

About 10% of active registered voters in Maine had already requested an absentee ballot as of late last week.

While fewer Maine voters have asked for absentee ballots than four years ago, requests so far this fall are out-pacing those from 2022.

Maine offers no-excuse absentee voting, meaning all voters can cast their ballot absentee without providing a reason. Mail-in ballots will be sent to voters in early October — 30 days before Election Day.

Mainers can now start voting absentee for next month's primary elections. These are the first local elections using semi-open primaries, where voters who are not enrolled in a specific party can cast a ballot in the primary of their choice.

The campaign for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sued Secretary of State Shenna Bellows for blocking access to voters at polling places, but a federal judge has denied its request for an injunction and that the case is unlikely to succeed on its merits.