Sarah Bennett
Maine voters have rejected a proposal to repeal a vaccination law that prohibits all non-medical exemptions, including those based on religious beliefs. The Maine Legislature passed the measure in May 2019, and it went into effect in September 2021. The law, known as LD 798, eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions for required vaccinations, including those for public school attendance and working in healthcare. The Supreme Court rejected Maine's religious exemption to vaccine requirements, upholding the law as passed by the legislature. This law made Maine the fifth state to adopt a vaccination policy that forbids religious or other non-medical exemptions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| State | Maine |
| Law | Passed |
| Vaccination Exemptions | Only medical exemptions allowed |
| Non-medical Exemptions | Not allowed |
| Religious Exemptions | Not allowed |
| Philosophical Exemptions | Not allowed |
| Voter Decision | Rejected proposal to repeal the law |
| Vaccination Law Implementation | September 2021 |
| Vaccination Rate | 6.2% |
| Vaccination Status | 5% of kindergartners unvaccinated |
| Referendum | Question 1 |
| Voter Ratio | 3:1 |
| Vaccines Not Included | Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, H. Influenza, Rotavirus, HPV |
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What You'll Learn
Maine voters rejected repealing the law
In March 2020, Maine voters rejected a proposal to repeal a new vaccination law that forbids all non-medical exemptions, including exemptions based on religious beliefs. The Maine legislature passed the measure in May 2019, and it went into effect in September 2021. The law, known as LD 798, eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions to required vaccinations for all students attending any public or private school in the state. It also applies to vaccinations required for working in healthcare, including hospitals and nursing homes.
The issue of religious exemptions for vaccinations has been a topic of debate in several states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Texas. In Maine, the debate was brought to a head with the "Question 1" referendum, which asked voters whether to repeal the new vaccination law. The referendum was a response to a bill passed by the Maine State Senate in May 2019 that eliminated religious and philosophical vaccine exemptions. This bill was passed in reaction to alarmingly low state-wide immunization rates among young children. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that Maine's vaccine exemption rate hit 6.2%, the state's highest in over a decade, with most of these exemptions for non-medical reasons.
The "No on 1" campaign, led by Maine Families for Vaccines PAC, argued that vaccines are crucial to protecting children and the community from preventable diseases. They also highlighted the risk posed to vulnerable members of the community if others are allowed to opt out of vaccinations. Governor Janet Mills supported the "No" vote, stating that the law "leaves medical exemptions up to medical professionals and ensures that Maine children are better protected from the spread of dangerous communicable diseases."
The "Yes on 1" campaign, led by Mainers for Health and Parental Rights, raised concerns about parental rights and government coercion. They argued that the law was punitive and overreaching, infringing on the freedom to make medical decisions for one's children. This group collected nearly 100,000 signatures, securing a "people's veto" referendum. However, voters rejected the proposal to repeal the law by a nearly 3-1 margin, leaving only medical exemptions as a way to avoid children being immunized.
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Religious and philosophical exemptions
Maine previously allowed religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations. However, in May 2019, the state passed a bill that banned these exemptions for preventable disease vaccinations. The bill, known as LD 798, was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills. It states that health and education departments can no longer accept vaccine exemptions unless a licensed physician provides a statement. This law was in response to the rising rates of measles across the country and Maine's high rate of non-medical vaccine exemptions.
The new law was met with criticism and sparked a referendum, known as Maine Question 1, in March 2020. The referendum asked voters whether to repeal the new law and reinstate religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations. The "Yes on 1 Maine to Reject Big Pharma" campaign supported repealing the law, while the Maine Families for Vaccines campaign supported upholding it. Despite the controversy, Maine voters ultimately rejected the proposal to repeal the law by a significant margin, demonstrating their support for the elimination of religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations.
The decision to eliminate religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations in Maine is part of a broader trend in the United States. Maine joined other states, including West Virginia, Mississippi, New York, and California, in adopting a vaccination policy that forbids non-medical exemptions. This move highlights the importance of herd immunity and the role of vaccinations in protecting public health, especially in the context of rising vaccine exemption rates and the outbreak of the coronavirus.
While some citizens continue to advocate for religious and philosophical exemptions, health professionals emphasize that the decision to avoid vaccinations affects more than just the individual. Maintaining high vaccination rates is crucial for the safety of those who cannot receive vaccinations due to legitimate medical reasons, such as a weakened immune system. By achieving herd immunity, the spread of preventable diseases can be effectively controlled.
In summary, Maine's decision to pass a law eliminating religious and philosophical exemptions for vaccinations was a controversial but important step in prioritizing public health and addressing the rising rates of vaccine-preventable diseases. The state's high rate of non-medical vaccine exemptions and the increasing cases of measles across the country further justified this decision. The subsequent referendum and its outcome demonstrated the voters' support for this law, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of vaccination policies in ensuring the well-being of communities.
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Low immunization rates among children
The issue of low immunization rates among children in Maine is part of a broader trend across the United States. According to KFF polling from August 2025, there is confusion among the public regarding vaccine policy, with half of the parents unsure about federal health agencies' recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children. This uncertainty, coupled with reduced support from the federal government for state and local health departments, has likely contributed to declining vaccination rates among kindergarten-age children.
The decline in vaccination rates is not limited to COVID-19 vaccines but also includes routine childhood vaccinations such as MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), DTaP, polio, and varicella. In the 2024-2025 school year, over three-quarters of states had MMR vaccination rates below the target rate of 95%. The percentage of children granted exemptions from vaccines has also risen sharply, with the highest national exemption rate of 3.6% in the same school year.
The low immunization rates among children have had significant public health consequences. In Texas and neighboring states, for example, measles outbreaks have occurred due to pockets of low immunization. The highly contagious nature of the virus has resulted in a surge of infections, with measles sickening more people in recent years than since it was declared eliminated in 2000.
The decline in vaccination rates and the subsequent outbreaks of infectious diseases have been attributed to several factors. One significant factor is increasing vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation and skepticism about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Public trust in health authorities has declined, and partisan views on vaccine requirements have become more prominent. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to these trends, as vaccination rates for kindergarten-age children continued to drop during this period.
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Maine joins four other states
Maine has become the fifth state to adopt a vaccination policy that does not permit non-medical exemptions. The state's residents voted to uphold a law passed by the Maine Legislature in May 2019, known as LD 798, which eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions to required vaccinations. This law applies to all students attending any public or private school in the state.
The vote, which took place in March 2020, saw Maine join West Virginia, Mississippi, New York, and California as the only states with such stringent vaccination policies. The referendum, known as Question 1, specifically addressed whether to repeal the new vaccination law, with a 'Yes' vote indicating support for repealing the law and allowing non-medical exemptions, and a 'No' vote indicating support for upholding the law and maintaining medical-only exemptions. The result was a decisive 'No', with nearly 75% of voters rejecting the proposal to repeal.
The issue of religious exemptions for vaccinations has been a contentious topic in Maine and several other states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Texas. In Maine, the debate was driven by concerns over the state's low immunization rates among young children, with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reporting a vaccine exemption rate of 6.2% in 2019, the highest in over a decade. The law's supporters argued that it was necessary to protect the health and safety of Maine's children, while opponents claimed that it infringed on parental rights and religious freedoms.
The law went into effect in September 2021 and has had a significant impact on vaccination rates in the state. It is worth noting that this law does not impact anyone outside of public schools and healthcare. Additionally, it does not apply to vaccines for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, H. Influenza, Rotavirus, or HPV.
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The Supreme Court rejects religious exemption
In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a 2021 Connecticut law that eliminated the state's religious exemption from childhood immunization requirements for educational institutions. The law requires students to receive specific immunizations before enrolling, allowing some medical exemptions. The Supreme Court's decision upheld a federal appeals court ruling that maintained the contentious law.
Connecticut's law eliminated religious exemptions for childhood immunizations in schools, colleges, and daycare facilities. Prior to 2021, Connecticut allowed students to seek religious exemptions. However, lawmakers removed this option due to concerns over increasing exemption requests and declining vaccination rates in certain schools.
The Supreme Court's decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by We the Patriots USA Inc. and several parents. They argued that Connecticut violated religious freedom protections by removing the exemption. In contrast, Connecticut's Attorney General William Tong defended the law, stating that it was "'lifesaving and fully lawful' and that the legislature acted within its authority to protect public health.
While the Supreme Court's decision specifically addressed Connecticut's law, it sets a precedent for other states grappling with similar issues. For example, Maine has also faced debates over religious exemptions for vaccinations. In 2020, Maine voters rejected a proposal to repeal a vaccination law that forbids religious exemptions, demonstrating support for laws that prioritize public health and immunization.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in May 2019, Maine passed a law that only allows medical exemptions for those concerned about vaccines.
As of 10 pm on Tuesday night, with 33% of Maine's precincts reporting, 'No' was leading with over 73% of the vote.
Maine passed this law in reaction to alarmingly low state-wide immunization rates among young children. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that Maine's vaccine exemption rate hit 6.2%, the state's highest in over a decade.
This decision eliminates religious and philosophical exemptions to required vaccinations. This includes vaccinations required for public school attendance and working in healthcare, including hospitals and nursing homes.
Some citizen groups objected to the removal of religious and philosophical exemptions. They collected enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot, but the citizens of Maine upheld the law as passed by the legislature. There are mixed reactions to this decision, with some people expressing concerns about parental rights and freedom of choice, while others emphasize the importance of protecting public health and vulnerable community members.
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