March 29, 2023

NEW POLL SHOWS NEAR UNIVERSAL SUPPORT FOR PROTECT MAINE ELECTIONS INITIATIVE

Data demonstrates significant support for the effort across demographics, 

political affiliations, and regions of the state

Augusta, ME – The Protect Maine Elections campaign today released polling that demonstrates near universal support for the initiative, and once again called on the Maine Legislature to pass the initiative outright. 

The newly released data from the Maine firm Pan Atlantic Research is consistent with previous polling and demonstrates significant support for the Protect Maine Elections campaign across demographics, political affiliations, and regions of the state. 

“There are few other issues – if any – that garner such clear consensus among voters as this initiative to prohibit foreign governments and foreign government-influenced entities from spending money to influence Maine elections,” said Kaitlin LaCasse, campaign manager for Protect Maine Elections. “The Maine voters led by initiating this bill and now we respectfully ask the legislature to pass the initiative outright.” 

Key findings from the Pan Atlantic poll include:

• 82% of Maine voters answered “yes” to the question “Do you want to prohibit foreign governments and foreign government-influenced entities from spending money to influence Maine elections?” This includes 91% of Republicans, 83% of Democrats, and 82% of Independents. Only 8% of Maine voters oppose such a prohibition of foreign government spending in our elections. 
• 65% of Maine voters support the proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Americans to limit campaign contributions and undisclosed political spending. This includes 65% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats and 68% of Independents. Only 10% of Maine voters oppose such an amendment. 
• 86% of Maine voters agree with the statement, “The influence of money in politics is a threat to our democracy,” including 86% of Republicans, 90% of Democrats, and 87% of Independents. Only 5% of Maine voters disagree with the statement. 

While foreign governments are not permitted to contribute to candidate campaigns, the Federal Elections Commission recently ruled that it has no jurisdiction over state referendum campaigns, creating a dangerous loophole that allows foreign government spending in referendum campaigns unless explicitly prohibited by state law. The Protect Maine Elections initiative will give Mainers the opportunity to make Maine one of a growing number of states and municipalities to ban foreign government spending in referendums. 

The Protect Maine Elections initiative also affirms Maine’s support for an anti-corruption amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It directs Maine’s congressional delegation to advance such an amendment that would allow for reasonable campaign fundraising and spending limits in Maine and across the country and also charges the Maine Ethics Commission to report annually on the progress made by Maine’s delegation – an important accountability measure.

Over 80,000 Mainers signed the Protect Maine Elections petition, which has been certified by the Secretary of State. Now the Legislature has the opportunity to pass the initiative outright or to send it to the voters on the November 2023 ballot. The campaign is asking for the legislature to pass the initiative outright. 

There is significant and growing bipartisan support for passing the Protect Maine Elections initiative outright, including from Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME2), Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland), House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor), Senate Assistant Minority Leader Lisa Keim (R-Oxford), Co-Chair of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee Senator Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec), former House Republican Leader and Candidate for Governor Ken Fredette (R-Newport), campaign chair Senator Rick Bennett (R-Oxford), Senator Nicole Grohoski (D-Hancock County), Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, League of Women Voters of Maine, Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network, American Promise, RepresentUs, and more.

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