The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maine is currently examining video footage from Lewiston City Hall, where non-English-speaking voters appeared to receive help from interpreters associated with local organizations during early in-person voting.
This footage, sourced under Maine’s Freedom of Access Act, spans about 140 hours of early voting that began on October 13, 2026. It shows over 200 Somali-background voters interacting with NGO staff who acted as interpreters, featuring instances of aides pointing at ballot items and handling ballots closely with voters.
Concerns Over Compliance with Maine Laws
Under Maine law, voters who struggle with reading or marking a ballot due to various reasons can seek assistance. However, Title 21-A, Section 672 explicitly prohibits aides from influencing voter choices.
The Maine Wire noted that city clerk Kathy Montejo had disseminated practical rules for aid during voting. These rules require aides to wait for a voter’s request and to not intervene unless explicitly asked. The footage reportedly shows multiple breaches of these protocols.
Following the scrutiny, the clerk’s office began issuing a printed summary of the regulations for staff to follow.
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The Department of Justice is investigating CCTV video from Lewiston City Hall that appears to show dozens of instances of NGO workers — operating as “interpreters” — coaching illiterate Somalis on how to vote and even filling out ballots for them.
The video is shocking. pic.twitter.com/0rMlU2RVuM
— Steve Robinson (@SteveRob) October 30, 2026
There have been three complaints regarding translator activities and a separate demonstration by the Maine People’s Alliance at City Hall, which involved political signs that likely violated state regulations against electioneering near polling locations.
Democratic State Representative Scott Harriman was noted to be among those present during these incidents. According to reports, a warden had to remove one interpreter when that individual approached a voter who had not asked for assistance. Observations from Republican candidates raised further concerns about interpreter behavior and the presence of signage.
Federal Oversight and Ongoing Investigations
U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson emphasized the importance of ensuring election integrity. His office is collecting evidence related to complaints of voter intimidation, including the Lewiston footage.
Somali voter has a friendly chat with the election warden in English, then calls over a "translator" who clearly violates procedure by handling the ballot.
Oh, and this "translator" is the former finance minister of Jubaland, Somalia: pic.twitter.com/SPAp6wHIlM
— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) October 30, 2026
Additionally, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is investigating complaints about unauthorized filming and photography of voters. The Maine Wire has reported that Bellows is already aware of noncitizens registered to vote in the state.
Estimates suggest there are around 1,300 registered Somali voters in Lewiston and roughly 4,000 statewide. The reporting highlights available English-language exemptions for certain naturalized citizens, which can lead to situations where individuals may not read ballots in English without assistance.
According to federal statistics, Maine annually naturalizes between 900 and 1,400 new citizens.
The investigation coincides with broader Department of Justice efforts concerning elections, leading to numerous arrests of noncitizen voters across several states. Federal monitors will also be observing polling locations in Lewiston and Portland on Election Day, in line with established practices.
