Maine bill would limit who can deliver absentee ballots and repeal ongoing absentee status

A bill that would require municipal clerks to issue absentee ballots only to residents of the issuing municipality and repeal ongoing absentee voter status drew opposition at a public hearing before the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs.

Representative Adams of Lebanon, the bill sponsor, told the committee the measure responds to reports from constituents that absentee ballots were mailed for deceased relatives. “Last election cycle, I had many constituents come to my house and tell me that they got absentee ballots for their parents who have been dead for a few years,” Representative Adams said.

The measure would also remove the provision that lets voters 65 and older or voters who…