DOJ Probes Alleged Voter Coaching in Lewiston
Federal authorities investigate claims of improper ballot assistance for Somali voters in Lewiston, Maine.
2 min read
The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing surveillance footage from Lewiston City Hall in Maine following allegations that individuals improperly influenced Somali voters during early voting, according to The Daily Wire. The footage, obtained via a Freedom of Access Act request by The Maine Wire, reportedly shows dozens of interactions between non-English-speaking Somali voters and individuals acting as interpreters.
In multiple videos, individuals appear to be helping voters with ballots, according to the outlet. Maine Wire reporter Jon Fetherston, who observed early voting in person, said on October 20 that he had seen interpreters “pointing at the ballots” and “a couple of people actually touching the ballots.”
Three “aides” help one man vote in Lewiston: https://t.co/9MlIYjGs4D
U.S. Attorney for Maine Andrew Benson confirmed that federal authorities are reviewing the footage. “We review all evidence concerning complaints of voter intimidation and election interference, including the video from Lewiston’s early voting at City Hall,” Benson told The Robinson Report, the Substack of Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson. “We will not tolerate threats to the integrity of our elections, and we look forward to working with the Attorney General’s Office and the Secretary of State’s office to defend our democracy.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice confirmed an investigation is ongoing but declined to provide additional details. The videos were reportedly recorded during early in-person voting at City Hall, which began on October 13. The Maine Wire reported that 140 hours of footage show more than 200 Somali voters receiving assistance.
One day of early voting in Lewiston, Maine: https://t.co/9RYaPNAoWt
Maine law permits voters unable to read or mark a ballot because of physical disability, illiteracy, or religious faith to request assistance. An aide may help read or mark the ballot according to the voter’s wishes but may not direct the voter’s choices or otherwise influence the vote. Pointing at or touching a ballot, by itself, does not establish whether the assistance violated those rules.
Meanwhile, GOP Sen. Susan Collins is locked in a tense reelection campaign with Democrat Troy Jackson. Polling shows a tight race, and in a state like Maine, thousands of votes could make the difference. The federal probe also comes as the DOJ has announced a series of illegal voting prosecutions in the final weeks before the Nov. 3 election.
The investigation comes as federal authorities pursue separate cases involving accusations of illegal voting and voter registration. This month, the DOJ charged dozens of foreign nationals with illegally voting in American elections or registering to cast ballots, The Daily Wire exclusively reported. The accused spanned several states, including Nevada, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, and New York. All but one of the accused are lawful permanent residents. A single illegal immigrant was among those charged, according to the DOJ.
Source: Daily Wire
