On Nov. 7, Maine voters will decide on Question 2, a ballot initiative to prohibit foreign governments, or entities with at least 5% foreign government ownership or control, from spending money to influence ballot measures or candidate elections.
The issue of foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns was discussed during the 2021 election cycle when Maine voters approved Question 1, which prohibited the construction of electric transmission lines defined as high-impact in the Upper Kennebec Region, including the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC), and required a two-thirds vote of each state legislative chamber to approve high-impact electric transmission line projects.
Hydro-Quebec, a government-owned enterprise of Québec, spent $19.9 million to oppose that initiative. If Question 2 had been in effect during the 2021 election cycle, it would have prohibited Hydro-Québec from contributing to opposition PACS campaigning against Question 1.
