Secretary of State Bellows vows to continue making voting more accessible to Mainers in next term

The Maine Legislature selected Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on Wednesday to serve a third term in the role, during which she intends to build upon her work of making voting more accessible through technology modernization.

“I’m passionate about democracy and making life better for people as we move forward into my next term,” Bellows told Maine Morning Star. “I’m committed to continuing to modernize the Department of Secretary of State to improve customer service for Mainers.”

Among Bellows’ goals for her next term are launching a new central voter registration system, an online system for driver education and license exams, and a digital record system to preserve and share historical documents with the public for posterity, she said. 

“I’m really proud of my record in helping to make Maine a leader on voting rights nationally,” Bellows said.

Since she was sworn in for her first two-year term on Jan. 4, 2021, her office has implemented online voter registration and automatic voter registration at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, among other initiatives. In 2022, Maine had the highest voter participation in the nation. And November’s election yet again saw record turnout. 

When Rep. Holly Stover (D-Boothbay) nominated Bellows during a joint session Wednesday, she highlighted those advancements. “Four years ago, Secretary Bellows promised modernization, and she delivered,” Stover said. 

Further, Stover commended Bellows’ dedication to civil and voting rights regardless of party or position, another quality pointed out by Sen. Nicole Grohoski (D-Hancock), who also nominated Bellows. 

“I’m not the only legislator in this room who has been on the opposite side of [Bellows] on an issue. Indeed, I’m not even the only legislator in this room who has been on the opposite side of her in a lawsuit,” Grohoski said. “These experiences have made it crystal clear to me that she is exactly who we need as secretary of state, because she approaches every issue for what it is and not who is presenting it.” 

Bellows, a Democrat, said there remains much work to be done. And some of that work is not yet known as other constitutional officers in Maine vow to fight against possible challenges from the incoming Donald Trump administration.

“Secretaries of State have a critically important role to play in protecting elections and strengthening democracy,” Bellows said, when asked out how her role could change with the shifting national landscape. “I am proud of my work to make Maine a national leader on voting rights and election administration, and intend to continue to make Maine an example that other states and the nation can follow to strengthen and protect democracy.”

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Bellows received national attention a year ago when she disqualified Trump from Maine’s primary ballot after citizens filed challenges to his eligibility because of his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Some Republican lawmakers in Maine unsuccessfully attempted to impeach Bellows twice over the decision.

Bellows ultimately withdrew her decision after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a Colorado court ruling that had disqualified Trump from its state ballot based on the same legal grounds.

Bellows has sparred with Republicans over other issues during her tenure, too. Most recently she criticized Republican legislators for amplifying unsubstantiated accusations of noncitizen voting. 

Bellows says unsubstantiated noncitizen voting claims ‘lay groundwork to challenge results’

In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 election, the Maine Wire, a website owned by conservative think tank Maine Policy Institute, published an article alleging a handful of noncitizens were registered to vote in Maine by comparing voter rolls against self-reported status on medical records, which the website refused to turn over to Bellows and Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey.

After Maine House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) called for an investigation, Bellows called on him to act. “Perhaps given your close working relationship with the Maine Wire and as leader of your Caucus, you could provide some sensible guidance to those who are withholding evidence of potentially ongoing crimes,” she wrote in a letter to Faulkingham. 

The majority party of the Legislature gets to select constitutional officers. However instead of backing Bellows, Republicans nominated Rep. Howard Sawin Millett Jr. as their choice for secretary of state, although the minority party did not have enough support for their nominee to beat Bellows.

“Following years of partisan division and acrimony, the Maine people deserve a Secretary of State who embodies impeccable ethics and is held in the highest regard for their trustworthiness and transparency,” Faulkingham said after nominating Millett on the floor on Wednesday.

Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) also spoke in support of Millett. Praising his patience and demeanor, Bennett said Millett “taught many of us how to be, not only better at the budget and finances, but how to be better legislators.”

While Bellows prepares to assume the role of Secretary of State for another two-year term, her name is also circulating as a possible gubernatorial candidate for 2026, when Gov. Janet Mills will be termed out. 

Shortly before lawmakers reselected Bellows on Wednesday, she was narrating the recount for Maine’s Second Congressional District race live on YouTube, which she also did for the ranked choice tabulations for that race and each of the legislative recounts. As she explained each part of the processes during the livestreams, she frequently reminded viewers that they were witnessing democracy in action. 

“One of my favorite parts about the role of Secretary of State is the ability to help people,” Bellows told Maine Morning Star. “At the Department of Secretary of State we are here to serve the people of Maine, whether that’s getting a license, starting a business, researching family genealogy or participating in our elections. I love the customer service aspect of the role. And, I want every Mainer to know that we are a phone call or a visit away to make their lives easier.”