Former President Donald J. Maine's top elections official said Friday that he plans to appeal a state Superior Court judge's ruling this week that stayed his decision to exclude Trump from the state's Republican primary ballot.
In a statement, the official said Secretary of State Shenanna Bellows welcomed the guidance from the US Supreme Court, which is expected to hear arguments in a similar case on February 8. But in the meantime, he said he's seeking input from Maine's Supreme Court.
“I know that questions about the Constitution and state power are of great concern to many,” Ms Bellows wrote in a short statement on Friday. “This appeal affirms the opportunity to promote confidence in our free, safe and secure elections before the votes are counted to the Supreme Court of Maine.”
In a ruling late Friday, Maine's Supreme Court Chief Justice, Valerie Stanfill, Narrated the order of the lower court “Generally not appealable.” He ordered Ms Bellows to explain why the appeal should not be dismissed by Tuesday.
Jan. 6, 2021, because Trump was ineligible for a statewide vote in Maine because of his insurrection by promoting an attack on the U.S. capital, MS, a Democrat elected by the state legislature. Bellows ruled on December 28. The 14th Amendment disqualifies government officials from office who are “insurrectionary or insurrectionary.”
His decision made Maine the second state to bar Maine from the ballot, after a Colorado court reached the same conclusion. Similar ballot challenges have been filed in at least 35 states; The primary season is already underway but many remain unresolved.
Mr. Trump's lawyers appealed Ms. Bellows' decision to the state Supreme Court, arguing that her finding was biased and that she did not have the authority to keep him off the ballot. Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy did not uphold or reverse Ms. Bellows' decision in her court order on Wednesday, but ordered the secretary of state to issue a new decision after the US Supreme Court issued its ruling.
Republican primaries in both Maine and Colorado are scheduled for March 5, known as Super Tuesday because many states hold their primaries that day; The deadline to mail ballots to Maine overseas voters is Saturday. Mr.
Ethan Strimling, former mayor of Portland, Mr. One of the voters who challenged Trump's eligibility for the Maine ballot said Ms. He said he supports Bellos' plan.
“The question must be answered,” he said.
Nicholas F. Jacobs, an assistant professor at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, saw little potential benefit in the appeal. Given the complex and unprecedented process now unfolding, Maine voters “are already in a precarious position and will remain so until the Supreme Court reaches its decision,” he wrote by email.
“The only thing we can be sure of is that come Super Tuesday, Manors will be even more confused about whether their votes are being counted,” he added.
