Maine's top Democrats are facing mounting pressure to investigate non-citizen voting after a report revealed that ineligible voters cast ballots in recent elections—a discovery that could reshape outcomes in the state’s closest races.
In the wake of a report from *The Maine Wire* revealing that non-citizens are registered to vote in Maine, the state’s top Democratic officials have declined calls to secure elections further against illegal voting. The investigation used data from MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program, showing the alien status of 18 individuals residing in southern Maine, 6 of whom were found registered to vote—five of them having cast ballots since 2016.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows both sought cooperation from *The Maine Wire*, requesting names and other details about the six non-citizen voters. The Maine Wire refused, citing whistleblower protection and concerns over disclosing Medicaid-related information that could violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
While Maine Wire's refusal has sparked a political clash, Maine Republican leaders continue to demand that Gov. Janet Mills’ administration pursue an independent investigation. GOP leaders argue that Maine’s election integrity is at stake, with Republican Senate Leader Trey Stewart expressing disappointment over the perceived lack of action. "Mainers deserve to know how and why illegal votes have been cast and counted in Maine’s elections,” Stewart stated.
Republican House Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham also pressed Secretary Bellows to use MaineCare records in a targeted review to cross-reference non-citizen alien statuses against voter rolls. Mills and Bellows have resisted, maintaining that such actions could violate privacy laws. Mills instead emphasized that *The Maine Wire* could facilitate an investigation by sharing its information.
However, the stakes of non-citizen voting raise potential ramifications beyond state borders. Maine’s close 2022 elections, where key state legislative races were decided by narrow margins, reveal how small numbers of potentially illegal votes could shift outcomes in close races. Additionally, Maine’s ranked-choice voting and close margins in federal elections, such as Rep. Jared Golden’s win over former Rep. Bruce Poliquin by fewer than 4,000 votes, highlight the potential impact of unregulated non-citizen ballots.
With no state-led investigation underway, questions over election security in Maine persist. The Maine Wire claims its findings could reveal up to 25,000 potentially ineligible voters across the state if MaineCare data were fully analyzed—numbers that could meaningfully impact state and federal election results, including the closely watched presidential race in Maine’s Second Congressional District. As the political debate intensifies, the future of Maine’s election integrity may hinge on whether state leaders act or continue to defer action on these allegations.
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