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Maine Woman Receives 250 Election Ballots in Amazon Order, Sparking State Investigation
NEWBURGH, MAINE – An Amazon delivery took an unexpected turn for a Newburgh woman this week when her order of household staples arrived with a surprising, and unsettling, addition: 250 blank election ballots. The discovery has prompted an immediate investigation by state officials and ignited concerns about election security in Maine.
The woman, who has requested anonymity, told officials she had ordered coffee, rice, and paper plates from the online retailer. However, upon opening her package, she found hundreds of blank state ballots intended for the upcoming elections next month.
State officials have confirmed the incident. She also noted that the package appeared to have been opened and re-taped prior to its arrival.
The ballots have since been turned over to the Newburgh town office.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has launched an investigation into the incident through her office’s law enforcement division. “Safe and secure elections are my top priority,” Bellows stated.
“As soon as we became aware of allegations of ballots being received outside of the appropriate chain of custody, I immediately initiated an investigation… Law enforcement is working diligently to determine who is responsible, and they will be held accountable.
We will not stop until we have answers.”
This unusual delivery occurs just days before Maine voters are scheduled to begin casting mail-in ballots for a referendum that proposes tighter restrictions on absentee voting. Maine currently boasts one of the highest voter participation rates in the nation.
Republican leaders in the state legislature have called for a federal investigation into the matter, sending a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel.
House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham expressed grave concerns. “The discovery of hundreds of authentic state ballots in a private Amazon delivery is beyond alarming,” Faulkingham said in a statement.
He added that such a breach “exposes how vulnerable our elections really are” and undermines public trust, particularly as voters weigh new Voter ID standards.
Alex Titcomb, a leading proponent for the upcoming referendum on absentee voting, echoed these sentiments, stating, “This is a stunning breach of election security that no free state can tolerate.” Titcomb emphasized the need for stricter regulations and demanded answers regarding the whereabouts of potentially other unaccounted ballots, questioning the integrity of the state’s elections.
The Newburgh town clerk declined to comment on the incident.