The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration and USPS bid to restrict mail-in ballots, allowing absentee voting by mail to continue as in prior elections.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows welcomed the ruling, stressing that it preserves current voting operations and keeps in-person, drop box, and mail voting unchanged.

Maine voters can register or request an absentee ballot online at maine.gov/vote, and can track ballot status through Maine’s online tracking portal.

Absentee ballots can be requested online, in writing, or by calling the municipal clerk, with clear options provided for voters.

Bellows spoke at Bowdoin College to reassure students that their mail-in ballots will count, citing a close 2024 race to illustrate why every vote matters.

Bellows said the ruling keeps voting operations intact, with guidelines unchanged for in-person voting, secure drop boxes, and mail voting.

WABI sought reaction from the Maine Republican Party regarding the ruling.

Bellows noted the postal workers union’s wish to continue delivering ballots as before and urged voters to allow extra time for mail or use ballot drop boxes.

She highlighted bipartisan support for mail voting, including amicus briefs from Republican secretaries of state, and underscored that Republicans vote by mail too.

The administration’s plan aimed to obtain lists of eligible voters and empower USPS to refuse delivery to noncompliant states, which Bellows said data shows can still secure voting by mail.

Bellows and other Maine officials joined a multistate lawsuit against the administration’s executive order and USPS rule restricting mailed ballots.

She emphasized there is no evidence of problems with absentee ballots and reaffirmed that American elections are free, safe, and secure with mail voting remaining a viable option.