AUGUSTA – Maine Gov. Paul LePage signed a handful of bills into law today, including a measure that limits absentee voting in the days leading up to the election. But the measure is controversial, because it also repeals Maine’s 38-year-old law of allowing same-day voter registration.
Supporters say the law will ease Election Day burdens on municipal clerks, but opponents say it will disenfranchise thousands of Maine voters.
Last week, the president of the League of Women Voters of Maine told MaineToday Media her group planned on launching a people’s veto of the same-day registration repeal portion of the law.
A spokesman earlier today said Barbara McDade of the league has begun filing the paperwork to do just that. A press conference is planned for Thursday, where several groups are expected to announce their support for the signature gathering effort.
In the Legislature, votes on the measure fell mostly along partisan lines.
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