Maine GOP State Representative John Andrews has recently filed a motion to impeach the Maine Secretary of State, Sheena Bellows. This move has drawn attention to the role of the Secretary of State and the political nature of the appointment process in Maine.
In Maine, the Secretary of State, along with the Attorney General and the Treasurer, is chosen by party insiders within the legislature rather than being elected by the people. This inherent political aspect of the position raises the expectation for the Secretary of State to maintain a nonpartisan approach. However, Andrews argues that Bellows has failed to meet this expectation with her recent decision, which has resulted in the disenfranchisement of 300,060 voters in the state.
