By Lauren McCauley | Editor
“Numbers seem to be down slightly from what we expected after such a high turnout in the primary, but that may be due to mistrust of the postal service given the failed attempts by Trump to restrict vote by mail.” - Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, on the number of absentee ballots requested ahead of the start of early voting on Monday.
A ballot drop box outside the Caribou Municipal Building. (Photo by Emma Davis/Maine Morning Star)
ELECTION 2026
By Emma Davis
Voters can also now return absentee ballots. More than 70,000 Mainers had already requested absentee ballots as of Friday, with just over 45,000 issued and 793 returned and accepted. Requests so far are not a dramatic difference from 2022, said Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
ENERGY
By Alex Brown
Over the past year and a half, a dozen states have embraced a new vision for solar power: small, cheap panels that can be hung from a balcony or porch, be plugged into a standard wall outlet and take a dent out of residents’ utility bills.
ELECTION 2026
By Jonathan Shorman
One month from Election Day, President Donald Trump’s long-running pressure campaign over elections is approaching a decisive moment.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Hiring slows in September with job growth of 29K | Tim Henderson, Stateline
Prediction markets spend millions to influence state, federal governments | Kevin Hardy, Stateline
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