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Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (Maine)

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Responses by state

Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This article contains coverage of eight kinds of state government responses to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The article tracks developments in these areas that took place between the start of the pandemic in March 2020 through Dec. 4, 2020. The government responses covered here include:

Additionally, the article includes:

To view current coverage areas, including mask requirements, school responses, travel restrictions, and much more, click a state in the map below.

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Changes to election dates and procedures, March 16 through November 19

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


General election changes

Maine modified its voter registration procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

  • Voter registration: The voter pre-registration deadline in the general election was extended to October 19, 2020.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Primary election changes

Maine modified its primary election process as follows:

  • Election postponements: The primary election was postponed from June 9, 2020, to July 14.
  • Voting procedures: The voter pre-registration deadline was extended to July 7.
  • Political party events: The Democratic Party of Maine canceled its state convention, originally scheduled for May 29-30.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Click the gray bar below for more detailed information.


Statewide stay-at-home order, March 23 through December 4

See also: States with lockdown and stay-at-home orders in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

On March 31, Gov. Janet Mills (D) issued Executive Order 28, which directed individuals in Maine to stay home.[5] The stay-at-home order took effect April 2 and lasted until April 30. On April 28, Mills announced she was extending the state's stay-at-home order through May 31.[6]

On May 31, Mills issued an executive order easing the restrictions of the original stay-at-home order "to the extent that people may access the increased business and personal activities that are being reopened." The order noted that "persons who are over age 60 or who have a medically compromised condition are strongly urged to limit their movement and activities that expose them to persons other than immediate household members, and to avoid large gatherings, especially those occurring indoors or in otherwise confined settings." The order increased the limit on social gatherings from 10 to 50 people. The order also noted that individuals were required to wear cloth face coverings at large gatherings and in places of business.[7]

Executive Order 28 lists out all services that are considered essential. The order is embedded below.

Executive orders, March 30 through June 29

See also: Executive orders issued by governors and state agencies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


Court closures, March 17 through November 4

See also: State court closures in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
  • June 11, 2020: The Maine Judicial Branch moved into Phase 2 of reopening on June 15. Under this phase, the court may begin handling more proceedings. Anyone entering the courthouse must wear a mask and sanitize their hands upon entrance and exit. Social distancing measures are expected to be followed, including limiting courtroom gatherings to no more than 10 people, including staff. Phase 2 is in effect through July 2. The Judicial Branch is expected to move into Phase 3 on July 6, which will remain in effect through July 31. Under that phase, grand juries may resume. Phase 4 is expected to begin Aug. 3 and run through Sept. 4. Jury trials may resume in Phase 5, which is expected to begin on Sept. 7.[8]
  • May 5, 2020: The Maine Supreme Court extended restrictions on in-person proceedings through May 30. Jury trials were suspended through June 30.[9]
  • April 22, 2020: The Maine Supreme Court extended restrictions on in-person proceedings through May 15 and suspension of jury trials through May 29. Prior to the order, restrictions on in-person proceedings were set to expire May 1.[10]
  • April 14, 2020: The Maine Supreme Court issued an order which extended the suspension of certain in-person proceedings through May 1. Petit and grand jury proceedings are suspended through May 29.[11]
  • March 26, 2020: The Maine Supreme Court has suspended all grand and petit jury proceedings for the months of April and May.[12]
  • March 23, 2020: Maine courts reduced hours of operation to decrease judicial staff and public exposure to coronavirus, while still proceeding with urgent court matters.[13]
  • March 16, 2020: The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ordered that all jury trials in the state be delayed until May 1.[14]

Legislative session changes, March 20 through October 1

See also: Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

The Maine State Legislature adjourned its session early, effective March 17, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[15]

Proposed and enacted legislation, March 25 through August 19

See also: State laws in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

See below for a complete list of bills related to the coronavirus pandemic in Maine. To learn more about a particular bill, click its title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies, April 9 through November 24

See also: Changes to rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020


  • August 3, 2020: The Maine Supreme Court allowed eviction proceedings to resume.[16]
  • July 30, 2020: Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed an executive order extending some protections to renters.[17]
  • April 16, 2020: Gov. Janet Mills issued an executive order that prohibited landlords from evicting residential and commercial tenants. The order also created a $5 million fund through MaineHousing to aid residents who were unable to pay rent due to the coronavirus pandemic.[18]
  • April 14, 2020: The Maine Supreme Court issued an amended order which suspended eviction cases through May 1, 2020.[19]

Prison inmate release responses, March 30 through July 1

See also: State and local governments that released prison inmates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
  • June 8, 2020: U.S. District Judge John Woodcock denied a temporary restraining order requested by two inmates at the Mountain View Correctional Facility. Woodcock wrote, "The Court is not prepared — prior to an evidentiary hearing and without a showing that disaster is truly imminent — to substitute its judgment for that of the MDOC and Commissioner Liberty when it comes to administration of their facilities." The temporary restraining order would have required Maine Department of Corrections officials to review cases of all medically vulnerable inmates for release to allow them the ability to social distance due to the coronavirus pandemic.[20]
  • April 21, 2020: Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced during a press briefing that the Maine Department of Corrections had released 60 inmates to supervised community confinement. Inmates were determined eligible based on the risk posed to the public and the length of time left on their sentence.[21] A few counties made the decision to release inmates on the local level.[22]


Debate in Maine over responses to the coronavirus

See also: Debate in Maine over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia is covering the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Maine in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Click on the links below to read more about these debates.

Status of industries, May 15 through July 31

Between May 15 and July 31, we conducted detailed tracking of industries and activities in each state daily.

  • "Yes" means an activity was allowed or an industry was permitted to open. "No" means an activity was not allowed or an industry was not permitted to reopen.
  • Some rules were applied regionally rather than statewide. Each cell shows the loosest restriction in place at the time, or the broadest level of an activity permitted in the state, even if that activity was only permitted regionally. Where applicable, we indicated that an activity was only permitted regionally, and provided details in a cell note. For example, if gyms were permitted to open in half of a state, the spreadsheet would say "Yes (regionally)," and differences between the regions would be explained in a note.
  • A lack of detail in a note or parentheses does not necessarily mean that an activity or industry was "back to normal." We did our best to capture caveats, exceptions, and modifications to activities. We acknowledge, though, that states put forth a large number of requirements for many industries and activities.

Initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures

Maine released an initial reopening plan from March and April 2020 closures on April 28, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on April 29. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.

Summary from Documenting America's Path to Recovery

See also: Documenting America's Path to Recovery: April 29, 2020

On Tuesday, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) extended a modified stay-at-home order for the state until May 31 and released a four-stage reopening plan called “Restarting Maine’s Economy.”

Mills said, “While this plan presents a path forward for gradually and safely restarting our economy, it should not lure Maine people into thinking that this pandemic is almost over or that things will be back to normal soon. The hard truth is that they are not; that they likely will not be for a long time; and that, with this plan, we are inventing a new normal – a different way of doing business, shopping, traveling, and enjoying the Maine outdoors in ways that keep us all safe.”

Under the plan, social distancing measures—limited public gatherings and required face coverings in public—will initially continue. Some businesses will begin to open in Stage 1 on May 1 with restrictions.

While Stage 2 is expected to start in June, the following health metrics will be used by Mills to determine whether Maine will advance to the next stage or return to an earlier one:

  • Decline in influenza-like illnesses and COVID-like syndromic cases;
  • Decline in documented cases and newly hospitalized patients; and
  • Hospital and testing capacity.

On the timeline forward, the plan says, “While progression through the stages is planned month-by-month, decisions will be determined by public health metrics. Progress may also change based on virus trends, testing or treatment breakthroughs, or identification of new, safe ways of doing business.”

Context

* Mills declared a state of emergency on March 15, 2020. On March 31, Mills issued a stay-at-home order set to run from April 2 to April 30.

  • As of Wednesday, Maine had 1,056 coronavirus cases and 166 hospitalizations, and 52 total deaths. Maine’s per capita death rate is 4 per 100,000 people.
  • Maine is a Democratic trifecta. Democrats control both chambers in the state legislature, and Mills is a Democratic governor.

Plan details

Businesses will be allowed to open, in stages, if they comply with a set of checklist standards created in collaboration between the state Department of Economic and Community Development and the private sector. Sample best practices include closing break rooms, installing plexiglass shields, and reducing occupancy. These checklists will vary by industry.

Rather than categorizing a business as essential or nonessential for reopening, Maine’s plan focuses on whether the business can reopen while protecting public health and safety. Businesses that commit to following their industry’s checklist standards will be given a badge to post on their business door or website.

In Stage 1, set to begin on May 1, gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited and individuals entering the state must continue to quarantine for 14 days. Employees should work from home if possible. The following businesses are allowed to open if they meet checklist standards:

  • Drive-in theaters
  • Healthcare providers
  • Outdoor recreation facilities like golf courses, marinas, and state-owned public lands trails. Coastal state parks will remain closed
  • Barbershops, salons, and dog grooming services
  • Stay-in-your-vehicle church services
  • Auto dealerships and car washes

In Stage 2, which is expected to begin in June, gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited and individuals entering the state must continue to quarantine for 14 days. Legal, professional, and state employees may return to their offices. The following businesses are allowed to open if they meet checklist standards:

  • Restaurants (to in-person dining)
  • Lodgings
  • Outdoor recreation like campgrounds and day camps for children
  • Coastal state parks may reopen
  • Fitness facilities
  • Nail services
  • All retail businesses

In Stage 3, which has a targeted start of July, gatherings of more than 50 people are prohibited and individuals entering the state must continue to quarantine for 14 days. The following businesses are allowed to open if they meet checklist standards:

  • Bars
  • Hotels, campgrounds, summer camps, and RV parks for both Maine residents and visitors
  • Charter boats, state park campgrounds, and summer camps
  • Personal services like spas, tattoo parlors, massage facilities, and cosmetologists

In Stage 4, all businesses can resume normal operations. This stage does not have a targeted start date.

Reactions

* Dana Connors, the president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, said, “Our first concern, as always, is protecting the health of Maine people, and we support the Governor’s gradual approach to reopening the economy and her Administration’s commitment to working closely and collaboratively across economic sectors to determine how to do so safely. Maine businesses are eager to do their part to stem the tide on this virus, and we look forward to our continued partnership to that end.”

  • Steven Michaud, president of the Maine Hospital Association, said, “Maine hospitals appreciate the balanced approach the Governor and her team are taking on restoring a broader array of healthcare services available to the public.”
  • Curtis Picard, the president of the Retail Association of Maine, said, “We’ve heard pretty clearly from our [350] members that they can do some sort of opening with proper protocol and mitigation. We also think there’s some merit to looking at things regionally. That if you’re in Presque Isle or someplace in [Aroostook] County, why can’t they open up earlier than, say, Cumberland County?”

Coronavirus resources

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.

State resources

Twitter feeds for government officials and agencies appear below.

Federal resources

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Office of the Governor of Maine, "Governor Mills Signs Executive Order to Facilitate Voting, Protect Health of Voters & Election Officials Amid COVID-19 Pandemic," August 27, 2020
  2. ↑ Office of the Governor of Maine, "Executive Order no. 56 FY 19/20," June 3, 2020
  3. ↑ Office of the Governor of Maine, "Executive Order No. 39 FY 19/20," April 10, 2020
  4. ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Maine Democrats cancel May convention," April 3, 2020
  5. ↑ Governor of Maine, "Executive Order 28," accessed April 1, 2020
  6. ↑ 13 WGME, "Gov. Mills extends stay-at-home, lays out plan to reopen Maine's economy," April 29, 2020
  7. ↑ Office of the Governor of Maine, "Executive Order 55 FY 19/20," May 29, 2020
  8. ↑ The Ellsworth American, "Courts prepare for phase 2 reopening," June 11, 2020
  9. ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Coronavirus and the Courts," May 6, 2020
  10. ↑ STATE OF MAINE JUDICIAL BRANCH, "Revised Emergency Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court," April 22, 2020
  11. ↑ State of Maine Judicial Branch, "Revised Emergency Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court," April 14, 2020
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Mar27courts
  13. ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Coronavirus and the Courts," March 23, 2020
  14. ↑ Central Maine, "Trials at Maine courts delayed until May; DA urges fewer arrests," March 16, 2020
  15. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "A busy two days are coming in Augusta. Maine’s coronavirus response will be the topic." March 16, 2020
  16. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Groups that help renters prepare for ‘tidal wave’ of evictions that may not come immediately," July 23, 2020
  17. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Maine doubles rent relief as evictions resume and unemployment benefits drop," July 30, 2020
  18. ↑ Press Herald, "Maine reports 3 more virus deaths as Gov. Mills announces protections against evictions," April 16, 2020
  19. ↑ State of Maine Judicial Branch, "Revised Emergency Order and Notice from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court," April 14, 2020
  20. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Maine prisons don’t have enough COVID cases to warrant immediate releases, judge says," June 8, 2020
  21. ↑ Maine Public, "Maine Released Dozens Of Prisoners To Prevent COVID-19 Spread. But Advocates Say More Should Be Done," April 21, 2020
  22. ↑ Press Herald, "Maine jails, prisons begin inmate releases in light of coronavirus," March 30, 2020
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