More Lewiston, Maine Early-Voting Footage Appears to Show Aides Handling Voters' Ballots, and the U.S. Attorney Says His Office Is Reviewing the Video

Breitbart News says new security-camera video from early voting in Lewiston, Maine, adds to earlier reports that interpreters broke state rules on helping voters.

The footage. The video was obtained through the state's Freedom of Access Act, according to the report. One clip appears to show a woman chatting with a poll worker in English and then using a "translator," who handed over her ballot. Another is a compilation of voter and aide encounters that, Breitbart says, shows aides filling out or handling ballots. The report follows an Oct. 23 story on the same site and a Maine Wire report.

The law. Maine Wire reports voters may ask for a translator, but the aide may not offer help unprompted, influence a choice, mark a ballot or approach someone already in the booth. Breitbart says the clips appear to show those rules being broken.

The federal response. U.S. Attorney for Maine Andrew Benson told Maine Wire, "We review all evidence concerning complaints of voter intimidation and election interference, including the video from Lewiston's early voting at City Hall." He added, "We will not tolerate threats to the integrity of our elections."

The second complaint. Maine Wire also reported Democratic state Rep. Scott Harriman held a demonstration, reportedly organized by the Maine People's Alliance, right outside the room where people were voting. Maine bars electioneering within 250 feet of a polling place.

Note for readers: the characterization of the footage, and of the aides as breaking the law, is the writer's and Maine Wire's. Benson's statement says the video is under review, not that a violation occurred, and we saw no response from the city, the aides' organization or Rep. Harriman. Our earlier Lewiston story is on the site.