Somali 'translators' allegedly guide voters inside Maine polling booths, sparking legal concerns
Video shows Somali women in hijabs directing elderly voters inside private voting booths in Maine, which may breach state election rules.
Footage obtained by a conservative observer revealed Somali women in hijabs approaching elderly Somali voters at a Lewiston, Maine polling place, escorting them to voting booths and pointing out preferred candidates. Under Maine law, translators may only assist when a voter asks for help, must read the entire ballot aloud, and cannot handle the ballot or remain inside the voting area. The Lewiston County Clerk issued a clarification outlining these restrictions after the incident, and poll workers asked the alleged translators to exit the booth.
In a separate violation, Democratic State Rep. Scott Harriman organized a demonstration organized by the left-wing Maine People’s Alliance just outside the voting room, despite a 250-foot ban on electioneering near polling sites. Both episodes highlight enforcement challenges of Maine’s strict election-eering statutes.
Why it matters
The incidents raise questions about voter assistance practices and enforcement of electioneering bans in Maine.
In this story
