FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2025

Maine Conducts First-Ever Post-Election Audit Pilot

Augusta – The Maine Secretary of State’s Office is proud to host the first-ever post-election audit pilots for six legislative races.

Pursuant to a new law passed by the Legislature, Maine is piloting “risk-limiting” post-election audits for six legislative races that were within a 5% margin of victory in 2024. The law created a non-partisan Division of Post-Election Audits and Training to create procedures and oversee post-election audits and training on an ongoing basis. The law requires the new Division to pilot the new post-election audit process for the 2024 election results and then make the post-election audits a routine part of the post-election vote verification process starting in 2026.

“Mainers should be very proud of our free, safe and secure elections,” said Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. “This new post-election risk limiting audit process is a way that we can further prove the accuracy of Maine election results and the integrity of our elections.”

This year’s pilot will cover State Representative Districts 17, 20, 55, 83, and 90, and State Senate District 15. On Monday, March 17, the Division will be auditing House Districts 55 covering Manchester, West Gardiner and Hallowell and House District 90 covering part of Auburn.

The post-election audit process is open to the public and held from 9 am - 4 pm daily at 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta in the Florian Room. The entrance for the room is at the main entrance towards State Police headquarters.

Risk-limiting audits are a best practice in post-election reconciliation and provide additional levels of assurance that originally reported election results were correct, and demonstrate Maine’s elections are fair, secure, and trustworthy.

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