Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says she is “troubled” by claims that Somali interpreters accompanied migrant women into polling stations and directed them on how to cast their ballots.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Collins said she had only recently heard about the allegations and expressed concern about the integrity and security of Maine’s upcoming midterm elections.
“Certainly only Americans should be voting in American elections,” Collins said.
“It is troubling to me if people are being accompanied into voting booths and handling ballots in a way that is not sanctioned by law.”
The allegations surfaced Tuesday in a report by The Maine Wire, which said its journalists witnessed several elderly Somali residents being guided through polling locations.
The report alleged that interpreters escorted voters, operated buses from housing complexes to polling sites and, in some cases, instructed people on how to vote. The claims have not been independently verified.
According to the outlet, the interpreters were affiliated with taxpayer-funded nonprofit organizations and Medicaid agencies that had been mobilized as early voting began ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The alleged activity was reported in Lewiston, Maine, a city known for having one of New England’s largest Somali communities.
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins says she is “troubled” by allegations that Somali interpreters accompanied migrant women into polling stations and instructed them how to vote.
A report this week alleged that Somali “interpreters” escorted elderly migrants to polling places in Maine and directed them on how to vote.
The controversy comes as Collins faces one of the most difficult re-election campaigns of her career. Most polling shows a close contest between the Republican incumbent and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.
InsiderAdvantage recently put Jackson two percentage points ahead, while a separate Washington Post poll showed the Democrat leading by four points.
Collins had initially been running against oyster farmer Graham Platner, who withdrew from the race after facing allegations of sexual misconduct. Platner denied the claims.
Jackson has also faced controversy during the campaign, including revelations that he fathered children with his second cousin.
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The Senate race has drawn national attention because it could influence the balance of power in Congress after the midterms. Its outcome may help determine whether Republicans retain control of the chamber.
Earlier this month, Jackson came under fire for telling Collins to “shut up” during a heated debate exchange.
The confrontation began after a protester opposing data centers interrupted Collins while she was answering a question during the event.
Collins is engaged in a turbulent re-election campaign as she seeks to keep her Senate seat.
Collins is challenging Democrat Troy Jackson, pictured with Bernie Sanders, in the Maine Senate race.
As moderators worked to remove the protester, Collins criticized her opponent, saying: “So this is obviously one of Troy’s supporters.”
‘Oh shut up,’ Jackson fired back. ‘I don’t even know that kid,’ to which Collins responded, ‘Oh, right.’
Jackson refused to apologize for the jab at Collins, and doubled down in a post-debate interview with CNN as he said he had no regrets.
‘I’ve had four debates with Senator Collins. I’ve shook her hand afterward every time. But what I’m not going to be is talked down to by Senator Collins. I’m not going to, you know, be accused of things like that,’ he said.
Collins then escalated the feud, suggesting Jackson’s remark reflected a broader pattern in how he deals with women who challenge him.
‘I was struck by how reflexive the response, ‘Oh, shut up,’ was,’ Collins told Fox News.
‘But then I thought about the reputation Troy Jackson has in Augusta, particularly when he’s dealing with women with whom he disagrees. So in some ways, it didn’t surprise me.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Collins, Jackson and the Maine Bureau of Elections for comment.
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