The League of Women Voters of Maine said this week’s elections were conducted peacefully but there were isolated incidents of what were called, “several incidents of racial intimidation” at the polls.

The nonprofit sent more than 115 volunteers and staff to do “several forms of election observation and voter assistance” on election day. This is the fifth year the group has observed polling stations. They visited polling places in 83 communities throughout the state.

The league’s report showed an overall positive attitude and experience by Maine voters.

“The day started hopeful: communities hosted bake sales at polling places, small towns (with populations around one hundred people) opened their doors to find voters already waiting in line, and 18-year-olds were excited to vote for the first time,” the report’s authors wrote. “At one polling place, reading glasses were available for anyone who forgot to bring a pair. At another, there were sweets and flowers ready to greet voters.” 

The observers noted long lines at some polling places, but overall “voters faced few obstacles or disruptions to voting at the polling place.”

The report did describe incidents of what the league described as “racial intimidation.” Non-white voters, the report found, were occasionally “approached, harassed, and/or intimidated at their polling place.” 

The report did not indicate locations of the behavior but noted that at one polling location the election warden was notified, and no voter was unable to cast ballots due to harassment.

“While these incidents have not been common in Maine, or at least widely reported by our observers in previous years, it is possible that these incidents stem from the recent spread of disinformation on noncitizen and immigrant voting,” the report’s authors wrote. 

In general, however, the league found the voting experience to be positive and professional.

“Our nonpartisan election observers feed us reports of positive voting experiences, friendly poll workers, and democracy in action at the local level,” said Anna Kellar, the league’s executive director. “This reinforces that voters should have full confidence in the electoral process and that their vote is counted.”