Maine Investigates 2025 Election Material Misdeliveries
State officials reviewed ballot handling issues after materials were sent to a non-profit and a private residence.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Elections
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Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows investigated the mishandling of election materials during the 2025 statewide referendum election. Errors included the misdelivery of 250 absentee ballots to a Newburgh resident and 498 affidavit envelopes to a non-profit organization.
Why it matters
The mismanagement of sensitive election documents prompted state officials to terminate their contract with UPS for ballot deliveries in October 2025. These incidents highlight the vulnerabilities in logistics chains used for distributing official state election materials.
During the 2025 referendum, 64% of voters opposed Question 1, while 63% supported Question 2. Records indicate that out of 62 boxes shipped by Adam Graphic Corp, one box containing 498 ballot envelopes went missing before being located in October.
The players
Shenna Bellows
She serves as the Maine Secretary of State and oversaw the investigation into the election materials.
Adam Graphic Corp
This printing company was contracted to ship boxes of election materials for the 2025 election.
Center for Civic Design
This is a non-profit organization based in the DC area that focuses on election design.
The details
The state election office identified the missing items through a Freedom of Access Act request. While 250 ballots were delivered to a private address in Newburgh inside an Amazon package, the second batch was located after a Center for Civic Design employee notified the bureau.
Timeline
September 2025: Adam Graphic Corp shipped 62 boxes of election materials.
September 11, 2025: One box of election materials was reported missing.
October 3, 2025: A Center for Civic Design employee notified the state elections bureau about the box.
October 2025: Maine officials stopped using UPS for ballot delivery.
2025: Maine conducted a statewide referendum election.
Political Context
The disclosure of these mishandled materials was made possible through the transparency requirements of the Maine Freedom of Access Act. Critics of the state's election administration process point to these incidents as evidence of the need for stricter chain-of-custody oversight.
The termination of the UPS contract directly impacts how future election mailings are processed and delivered across the state. Residents should note that state officials have implemented these changes to ensure the security of absentee ballots following the 2025 incidents.
The takeaway
Maintaining secure logistics for ballot delivery remains a critical priority for state election officials. Voters are encouraged to track their absentee ballots through official state portals to ensure their vote is successfully recorded.
Further reading
For more background on state voting procedures, visit the Maine Elections portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LifeZette.
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