No, voting is not a waste of time | Opinion
Falmouth town councilor Sean Mahoney launches 2026 campaign for Maine House District 112
Falmouth, Maine – The 2026 election cycle is underway in Maine, and Falmouth town councilor Sean Mahoney is among the candidates vying for the state House seat in District 112, which covers North Deering and West Falmouth. Mahoney, who has served on the town council for several years, said in an interview that he began campaigning in February after a conversation with a local resident that left a lasting impression.
“Voting is a waste of time, and my vote won’t mean anything.”
The comment came from a voter in North Deering on a cold Saturday afternoon. Mahoney said the remark stuck with him and prompted him to reflect on the role of voting in a democratic society.
Mahoney, who is campaigning for the 2026 election, noted that the current Maine Legislature is controlled by Democrats with a 75‑73 margin over Republicans, plus three independent members. “The margin of victory for three Democrats in the last Legislature was a total of 60 votes,” he said, adding that small vote counts have shaped recent outcomes.
Historical context and modern voting options
Mahoney pointed out that the right to vote has expanded dramatically over the past 250 years. In the early 19th century, only white, property‑owning men – about five percent of the U.S. population – could vote. He highlighted the struggles that paved the way for broader participation, including the Civil War, the women's suffrage movement at Seneca Falls, and the civil‑rights marches on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. “Not voting dishonors those sacrifices,” he said.
He also described the different ways voters can cast ballots in Maine. Residents can vote on Election Day at their local polling place, vote by mail by requesting an absentee ballot online or at the town clerk’s office, or vote early in person from October 5 until the Thursday before Election Day (October 29). Mail‑in ballots are sent out beginning October 5 and must be returned by November 3. Early in‑person voting is available at the clerk’s office during regular business hours.
Small margins, big impact
Mahoney cited two recent primary contests to illustrate how every vote can count. In the Republican primary for House District 49, the winner edged out the runner‑up by six votes. In the Democratic primary for House District 135, the winner led by 18 votes out of 2,284 cast. He also mentioned that the margin of victory for three Democrats in the last Legislature was a total of 60 votes, underscoring how narrow totals can decide the balance of power.
Turning out the electorate
The state has historically high voter participation. During the 2024 presidential election, Maine saw an almost 75 percent turnout rate among eligible voters, about ten percent higher than the national average and tied with only Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In the 2022 midterm election, the turnout was nearly 61 percent, the second highest in the nation after Oregon. Mahoney urged voters to keep the “Dirigo” motto—“I lead”—in mind and to help Maine set a record for participation on Election Day, November 3.
Mahoney, who has spent years on the Falmouth town council, says that campaigning in District 112 is an opportunity to engage with neighbors and residents about issues that matter locally and statewide. “Voting is integral to being part of our community,” he told the Press Herald. “It’s a chance to weigh in on local, state and national issues and to connect with fellow voters, candidates, election staff and volunteers.”
The candidate’s campaign has already attracted attention in the district, and Mahoney plans to continue outreach across North Deering and West Falmouth in the months leading up to the November 2026 election.
