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In her Nov. 20 letter to the editor, Susan Lara offered her opinion that showing proof of identification should be automatically required to vote. I would beg to disagree.
The right and privilege to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy. The requirement to have an ID, much less 60 years ago to also pass a literacy test, stand in separate lines, or other forms of discrimination, would disenfranchise voters. Not all Mainers can get an ID due to the cost in money, time, convenience, or necessity. Even without needing any type of identification documents, the current process for voter registration has safeguards from fraudulent voting through location and signature data.
There is an unfortunate irony in saying the referendum on voter ID was “one of the biggest election frauds’”where Mainers instead decided that our right to elect our representatives was more important than giving into fear.
Lara also neglected to mention that research by the Energy & Policy Institute found that the parent company of Central Maine Power contributed to a political organization that bankrolled the “Yes on 1” campaign. I can only infer that the company’s apparent desire to restrict voting was because they had to defend their business model in 2023’s Pine Tree Power referendum.
Voting is essential and free and fair elections should not be compromised because of fearmongering.
Andrew Roberts Van Alstyne
South Berwick
