A bill to eliminate new voter registration on election day ”“ and during the two business days before an election ”“ is scheduled to be discussed by members of the legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs committee Friday.
The bill, LD 1376, would restrict access to the polls and reduce participation by eliminating the opportunity for new voters to register.
It can be difficult for people to get to town or city hall during the work week ”“ especially in small towns where municipal buildings are not open five days a week. Election Day may be the only opportunity for some to register, and that opportunity should be afforded to them.
Even some municipal clerks said publicly they were not in support of eliminating same-day voter registration, despite the fact that it makes their jobs harder on the busiest days of the year.
At a public hearing on the bill Monday, Bangor City Clerk Patti Dubois said, “I am a little bit concerned about disenfranchising voters. I’d much prefer to continue with the process we have in place.”
The Maine Town and City Clerks Association testified in support of the proposal ”“ which also includes notification changes and stops the issuance of absentee ballots for the three business day before election day ”“ but said it would favor an amendment to remove the restrictions on same-day voter registration.
We are not in support of the proposal and hope the entire bill is killed.
Voter participation is important, and the higher the turnout, the more accurate the representation will be in the legislature and other elected offices. Reducing the chance for people to register to vote or vote by absentee ballot would disenfranchise voters and reduce turnout.
Another bill, LD 199, would require state-issued ID at the polls for anyone to vote.
There is some merit to this bill, as it would cut down on possible voter fraud, but the issue needs more consideration. On the same line of disenfranchising voters, requiring ID could do just that.
A driver’s license now costs $30 ”“ on top of a driver’s education course that costs hundreds and the exam fee ”“ and a state issued ID costs $5. While the price may not seem prohibitive, the combined costs coupled with getting to a Department of Motor Vehicle’s office may be restrictive for some.
For people who meet income requirements, a photo ID should be provided for free.
If the ID requirement were to pass, it would add another level of complexity to the already-burdened town clerks and election officials.
Republicans said LD 1376 would ease the burden on clerks by eliminating voter registration on election day and two days before and also adjusting the rules on absentee voting. It seems taking that away but adding a new measure requiring voter ID would cancel out the reduction of work for clerks.
Checking IDs would simply add time to the check-in process and require more training for election workers who need to inspect identification.
At this time, holding off on approving the voter ID proposal would allow clerks to weigh in on what the benefits and drawbacks may be and allow for a more accessible process for obtaining state-issued photo IDs.
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