South Portland added to list of Maine cities where Justice Department will send election monitors
An election observer records video of election workers sorting ballots during the 2018 ranked choice voting tally for Maine 2nd Congressional District race. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
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South Portland has been notified by the U.S. Department of Justice that federal election monitors will be present at polling locations on Election Day, according to Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
In a written statement Wednesday, Bellows said three Maine cities have received such notices. The DOJ announced plans last week to send monitors to Portland and Lewiston.
“It’s important to note that DOJ has sent monitors to observe elections for decades,” Bellows said “Any monitors are subject to the same laws and rules as any other observer at the poll, they can observe what’s taking place, but they may not interact with voters, handle ballots or equipment, or disrupt voting in any way.
“We will monitor their activities to ensure that they follow state and federal law and that every voter is able to cast their ballot free from interference or intimidation.”
It’s not yet clear which of South Portland’s five polling locations the observers would visit, said Jana Spaulding, a spokesperson for the secretary of state. Portland and Lewiston voters can expect observers to float between all of those two cities’ polling places throughout the day, Spaulding said.
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Election Day in Maine may come with tensions over poll watching
Recent reports of possible voter intimidation in Lewiston have prompted a nonprofit coalition of military veterans to launch its own poll-watching program; their intention is to make sure federal agents or other groups aren’t intimidating voters. However, that prompted Bellows to issue a warning.
“While well meaning, the presence of large groups at polling locations may actually have the opposite effect (and discourage) some voters from voting,” Bellows said, adding that her office “will be working closely with local clerks and the Office of the Attorney General to safeguard the right to vote for every Maine citizen.”
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Tagged: Department of Justice, election 2026, Maine Secretary of State
Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts,. More by Drew Johnson
