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Recently, I helped a student apply for a Real ID. The student doesn’t drive, and the student’s mother, who has a disability, also cannot drive. Because the student wasn’t the “head of household,” few residency documents were in the student’s name. It took weeks of effort, a mountain of hassle and a cost of $30.
This is the reality behind Question 1’s voter ID requirement. Many supporters call it “common sense,” but in practice it means delays, stress, and costs for thousands of Mainers who simply want to vote. And it’s not just voters who pay. With Washington County already facing an $11 million budget shortfall, who covers the cost of “free” IDs, extra staff, and the bureaucracy this measure demands?
Worse, Question 1 goes far beyond ID. It would end ongoing absentee voting, restrict drop boxes, and forbid caregivers from returning ballots, changes that likely fall hardest on elderly Mainers, people with disabilities, tribal members, students, and rural voters.
The justification is flimsy. Maine already has secure elections with some of the highest turnout rates in the nation. Voter impersonation fraud is virtually nonexistent, but the risk of disenfranchising our neighbors is real.
For many Mainers, getting an ID isn’t simple. It can mean weeks of red tape, unexpected costs, and travel that’s impossible without transportation or mobility. Calling the ID “free” ignores the hidden costs to individuals and taxpayers alike.
Maine’s elections work. They are trusted, secure, and a point of pride. Let’s keep them that way.
This November, vote ”no” on Question 1.
Valerie Lawson
Robbinston
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