A Maine resident’s unexpected [1] discovery of 250 official state ballots inside an Amazon package has fueled new concerns over election security as the state prepares for a November referendum on requiring photo identification to vote.
The incident, first reported by Maine Wire, has prompted calls for federal authorities to investigate.
The ballots, shrink-wrapped in tamper-evident packs of 50, were reportedly found earlier this week in a shipment delivered to a resident of Newburgh, Maine.
WTF. A woman in Maine received 250 state election ballots packaged inside her Amazon delivery of food and toys.
This needs to be investigated IMMEDIATELY @TheJusticeDept [2] pic.twitter.com/evBvFMy658 [3]
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 1, 2025 [4]
The order, which contained household items including paper plates, a bag of rice, and a toy lightsaber, appeared to have been tampered with before arriving at the woman’s home.
“When I opened it, there were 250 official State of Maine referendum ballots inside my box. Thank goodness I am an honest citizen and immediately reached out to my town clerk and took the ballots to the town for safekeeping,” the resident said.
She added, “I am greatly concerned for our state and its voting requirements.”
Election officials who reviewed photographs confirmed the ballots appeared to be authentic 2025 referendum ballots.
They were turned over to the local town office for review.
The November 4 ballot measure will decide whether Maine becomes the 37th state to require photo identification at the polls.
The proposal has drawn partisan responses, with Democrats warning it could reduce voter turnout and Republicans arguing it is necessary to restore election integrity.
Maine Democratic Party Chairman Charlie Dingman has acknowledged concerns that a voter ID law could cost his party support.
In a May 30 text message to voters, he said, “If Maine adopted Voter ID requirements similar to those of 36 other states, it could result in a loss of 13,000 Democratic votes being counted in subsequent elections.”
Republicans said the ballot discovery raises serious questions. Maine Republican Party Chairman Jim Deyermond, a retired Massachusetts State Trooper, called the incident “beyond the realm of accidental.”
He added, “This incident should be treated as a potential crime and a crime scene,” and urged the Department of Justice to “assume jurisdiction over this matter immediately.”
The Department of Justice has already been in conflict with Maine election officials over voter roll accuracy.
Last July, the DOJ requested Maine’s voter registration records, citing potential irregularities.
Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General Michael Gates noted that Maine could have as many as 11,000 duplicate registrations.
“Please provide a description of the steps that Maine has taken, and when those steps were taken, to identify registered voters who are ineligible to vote as well as the procedures it used to remove those ineligible voters from the registration list,” the DOJ wrote in a letter at the time.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows rejected the request and responded, “The Gulf of Maine is awfully cold, but maybe that’s what the DOJ needs to cool down. So, here’s my answer to Trump’s DOJ today: go jump in the Gulf of Maine.”
Bellows, a Democrat who is running for governor in 2026, has also acknowledged that non-citizens are registered to vote in Maine.
Maine’s Secretary of State admits she believes non-citizens are registered to vote in Maine. pic.twitter.com/ekw46kUJTe [5]
— Steve Robinson (@BigSteve207) August 29, 2025 [6]
The ballot incident comes as debates over federal oversight of elections intensify.
During the Reconstruction era, states with histories of discriminatory practices were subject to federal supervision under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Section 5 of the act required federal approval for election law changes and authorized federal observers to monitor voting in certain jurisdictions.
Some analysts argue that similar oversight could be necessary in modern contexts where states are alleged to be failing to enforce federal election law.
Steve Robinson, reporting for Maine Wire, noted that irregularities involving 13,000 or 11,000 votes could significantly alter control of Congress.
With Maine voters set to decide the photo ID referendum in November, questions remain about how the state will respond to the ballot incident and whether further federal action will be taken.
The case has reignited calls for stronger safeguards to ensure only eligible citizens cast ballots in upcoming elections.