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This fall, you will see a lot of yard signs, letters to the editor, and political ads by the “Voter ID for Maine” campaign trying to convince you that Question 1 on our ballots this November is just about requiring voter ID at the polls. What they won’t say is the truth: Question 1 sneaks in a lot more changes to our elections.
Voting yes on Question 1 also means voting to make it more difficult for Mainers to vote absentee when they can’t physically make it to the polls on Election Day. Voting yes on Question 1 means voting to make it harder for elderly and homebound Mainers to get their absentee ballots. It also means voting to make it harder for absentee voters to send their ballots in to be counted.
Absentee voting is proven to be safe, simple, and accessible. It’s clear: Question 1 would make it harder for elderly, disabled, and hardworking Mainers to participate in our democracy. People who can’t leave their house, don’t have consistent access to a car, work multiple jobs, or juggle childcare rely on absentee voting — and so does the future of our democracy.
We shouldn’t let the “Voter ID for Maine” campaign trick us: Question 1 is about much more than just voter ID. Mainers should vote no on Question 1 this November to save absentee voting and keep our elections safe, accessible, and democratic.
Lucy Britt
Portland
