Sen. Hickman applauds investment in safe, secure elections in budget passed by Maine Legislature, signed by Gov. Mills

AUGUSTA — Today, Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, applauded the inclusion of funding for Maine’s elections in the biennial budget proposal passed by the Maine Legislature last week and signed by Gov. Janet Mills.

“Elections are the most foundational infrastructure of our democracy, and we must fully fund them,” said Sen. Hickman. “This budget includes funding the Secretary of State’s office needs to print and mail hundreds of thousands of ballots for each election. The Legislature has put its money where its mouth is by investing in preserving Maine’s free, fair and secure elections.”

Part II of the 2026-2027 biennial budget allocates resources to the Department of the Secretary of State for ballot printing and distribution to maintain the accessibility and integrity of upcoming elections. Prices for paper, postage and other materials required for Maine’s paper ballot-based elections continue to rise, necessitating investments from the Legislature to keep up.

As Senate Chair of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, Sen. Hickman helps oversee Maine’s election system. This year, he sponsored LD 13, “An Act to Provide Funds Necessary for the Production and Delivery of Election Materials by the Secretary of State,” which received unanimous support in both the House and Senate and proposed funding for Maine’s elections similar to the provision included in the biennial budget.

This investment was included as part of a balanced, fiscally responsible two-year budget that lowers costs, protects Maine’s future and defends the rights and freedoms of Maine people. The first part of the budget, which funded baseline government services and avoided a government shutdown, was passed in March of this year. The Legislature passed the second part of the biennial budget — which funds initiatives that meet the needs of Maine people — on June 18, and the Governor signed it into law on June 20.

Part II of the biennial budget will take effect 90 days after the First Special Session of the 132nd Legislature adjourns sine die.

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