Published: October 27, 2025
On Oct. 3, Hannah Pingree for Governor put on a Voting Rights Forum with Congressman Jamie Raskin in Hannaford Hall on the Portland campus. The forum focused on “voting rights and the forces threatening our democracy in Maine and across the country. Joann Bautista, the associate director with the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Elections Project, moderated the panel. The event was a part of Hannah Pingree’s campaign for Governor. Pingree represented Maine’s 36th district in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010. While elected, Pingree served as Chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services and as a member of the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs. In her third term, Pingree served as the 99th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, and is the second woman to hold the position in Maine history. The name Pingree may sound familiar, as Hannah Pingree is the daughter of Chellie Pingree, U.S. Representative for Maine’s first district.
During the panel discussion, Pingree briefly spoke about herself and her campaign platform. Pingree believes that “Governors have never been more important,” and that Maine needs to elect a candidate who will step up and accept the responsibility. Growing up on the island of North Haven, Pingree spoke about understanding the importance of Maine being self-sufficient and taking care of its own, saying, “no one is coming to save us except us.” Pingree specifically noted that she cares deeply about issues affecting Maine, including undersupported rural schools, protecting women’s rights, supporting the LGBTQ community and Immigrants, and affordable health care.
Before the panel officially began, Maryland Congressional Representative Jamie Raskin made a speech rallying the crowd, discussing the present threats of democracy the country is facing, and how division is making us weaker in the fight, saying “the fight is here and in front of us.” In his speech, Raskin noted that since the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1971, most amendments passed have been for democratization and expanding the ability of U.S. citizens to vote. Raskin also pointed out that the fight is also transnational, as many countries across the world are facing a destabilization of democracy. Most inspiring, Raskin reminded the audience that the most powerful and highest office in the United States should be “citizen.”
The first, and most notable, question asked during the panel was about the threat of gerrymandering and restrictions on voting. Both Pingree and Raskin were against gerrymandering in states such as Texas. Addressing voter restrictions, Pingree expressed her opinion on Question 1 on Maine’s Referendum Election Ballot, which asks, “Do you want to Change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities. ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?” Pingree agreed with the citizen initiative in the sense that we should strive to make our elections safe and secure, and did not seem entirely opposed to a requirement of ID before voting, but expressed that the initiative included far too many additional restrictions that will make it harder for Mainers to vote, especially rural and elderly Mainers.
If passed, Question 1 will allow each city/town/township to have only one ballot drop-off box, including the city of Portland, making the jobs of election officials more difficult. Question 1 does not fully explain how it will limit the number of ballet drop-off boxes.
Although the election to decide Maine’s new governor is not until 2026, the issues discussed during the Hannah Pingree for Governor panel will be voted on next month, on Nov. 4, in the Referendum Election. Question 1 asks about securing elections, as discussed above. Question Two, however, asks about implementing a new gun safety law: “Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?” Both Question One and Two will be on every Maine state ballot, regardless of county or district; what does change is each town/city’s Municipal Elections ballots. In Portland, Question A asks residents if they’d like to increase the minimum wage to $19 an hour by the start of 2028.
To find out what is on the ballot in the town you are registered in, visit your town’s website, for example, www.portlandmaine.gov or www.gorhammaine.gov. If you are not registered to vote in Maine and would like to vote this Nov. 4, you can register on election day as long as you bring a form of identification and proof of Maine residency. If you have more questions about how to vote or register as a college student in Maine, visit www.mainestudentsvote.org.
Important takeaways:
Question One seeks to require ID to vote in Maine elections, limit absentee ballot access, and allow for only one ballot box for each city/town.
Question Two seeks to allow Maine courts to put a temporary block on citizens from having a dangerous weapon if law enforcement, family, or household members show they pose a significant danger to themselves or others.
Check the town in which you are registered to see what’s on your Municipal ballot.
Hannah Pingree is running for Governor in the 2026 election.
