The Brief: Your November Update

Thank you to our volunteers and supporters, and to the voters of Maine for getting out to the polls in record numbers last week!

We’re proud to be part of a healthy and empowered nonpartisan election protection ecosystem throughout Maine. We are so grateful for the work of our many partners, including the League of Women Voters of Maine, the amazing local clerks and poll workers, and the election officials who worked tirelessly to ensure a safe and orderly process. As we look ahead to 2028, we will continue education, outreach, and advocacy to build trust and ensure free and fair elections in every election cycle.

As the scope and shape of the political environment in Washington and Augusta come into focus, the ACLU of Maine will be active throughout the winter developing priority issues, litigating important cases, sharing pertinent information, and activating Maine people. And next week, we’ll gather in person to celebrate the work of this year’s Scolnik Award recipient, local artist Ryan Adams. Ryan’s work shows us the power and joy of free expression, especially in repressive and regressive times. Together we will continue to build a future based on freedom, equality, and justice for all.

Tickets are selling quickly! Join us to celebrate Maine artist Ryan Adams, who uses his art to champion unheralded voices, shine light on critical issues, and build community. Hearty hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and live music included! Join us on Thursday, November 19, 5-7 p.m, at Ocean Gateway in Portland!

• Youth Disability Rights: In October, we urged a federal appeals court to uphold a landmark settlement to protect Maine children with disabilities. Our coalition of advocacy organizations is the only group defending the settlement as both the federal and state governments seek to backtrack on their promises.Back in 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Maine for violating young people’s rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The parties reached a settlement that would strengthen behavioral health services for children with disabilities and appoint an independent reviewer to hold the state accountable, among other things. Now, both Maine and DOJ are attempting to weaken their own settlement. That’s why we joined a coalition of organizations to file this brief on Maine children’s behalf.
• Free Speech: In early October, we had an important victory defending free speech at official government events in McGonigle v. Curran. Our client, social media influencer Amanda McGonigle, was banned from a public vice-presidential event earlier this summer simply because the vice president didn’t like the way she spoke about him online. We sued. Now, the government is on the record in court stating it will treat Amanda like any other attendee of vice-presidential events, and will not prevent people from attending such events based on their protected speech. No matter who is in power, the Constitution protects our right to publicly joke, mock, and dissent.
• Free Speech: In 2025, we sued on behalf of two human rights advocates in Smith v. Trump. Our clients were forced to stop their crucial humanitarian work when the president imposed unlawful sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), forbidding Americans from sharing information with the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor. This is a violation of free speech – our clients have a constitutional right to engage and advocate with ICC investigators and prosecutors.In September, the district court denied the government’s request to dismiss the case. The executive order remains blocked as our challenge proceeds.

Our Annual Report is here! 30 new court cases, hundreds of public records requests, dozens of trips to the State House, and thousands of Know Your Rights pamphlets later, we’re excited to celebrate the impact we’ve made with your support.

Since last year, the ACLU of Maine has been sending public records requests to towns and cities across the state to uncover the growing use of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) by local law enforcement. Big tech companies like Flock Safety and Axon market this invasive, AI-powered mass surveillance tool to towns across the country, but communities are pushing back. South Portland and Fryeburg both rejected contracts with Flock after residents spoke out against the technology, and we’re building momentum for a statewide ban. On Election Day, York became the first town in Maine to ban ALPRs via referendum.

Privacy has always been a top priority for the ACLU of Maine. We’ve led the way nationally on several ground-breaking privacy protections, including Maine’s historic ban on government use of facial surveillance, the prohibition on internet companies selling our personal data, and the requirement that the government to get a warrant before accessing our cellphone location data. We’ll build on these protections by banning ALPRs, strengthening our data privacy laws, and advancing other legislation that keeps Big Brother out of Maine.