Maine Ballot Initiative Underway for Universal Health Care Coverage

Through the use of a “citizen’s initiative,” efforts are underway in Maine to place on the 2026 ballot a question asking whether voters want to create state legislation to establish universal health care coverage in the state. For this to occur, at least 68,000 valid signatures must be collected by Feb. 2026.

If the threshold is not met on time, the initiative has until April 2027 to collect the required signatures and, if successful, be placed on the Nov. 2027 ballot. The initiative petition, led by Rep. Grayson Lookner (D), would require the legislative committee in charge of health care and insurance to draft a bill by 2028. In 2022, a similar effort failed to get enough signatures. It is unclear whether the initiative will be successful this time.