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I think Sen. Susan Collins’ recent announcement that she supports Donald Trump’s attempt to manipulate federal elections through legislation known as the SAVE Act and the SAVE America Act is a slap in the face to all Mainers, regardless of their political affiliation.
Last year, Mainers overwhelmingly rejected extreme right wing-backed attempts at voter suppression through onerous voter identification requirements.
Now, instead of respecting the will of the people, Collins and Trump want to force Mainers to provide proof of citizenship in order to exercise their constitutionally protected right to vote, even though there is virtually no evidence of voter fraud in Maine, or any other state. I think Collins and Trump are trying to gaslight Mainers into believing that there is a voting problem that in reality does not exist.
In fact, Maine ranks near the top in voter participation in elections. I believe these bills are a blatant attempt by Trump and Collins to rig the midterm elections in their favor, and trample our constitutional right to vote.
Furthermore, the timing of Collins’ announcement in support of the Trump Administration’s voter suppression efforts came shortly after there was talk of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents being sent to polling places, presumably to harass and intimidate voters in the upcoming election. One has to wonder whether it was mere coincidence that Collins’ support of the SAVE America Act came so soon after the senator said the Department of Homeland Security agreed to suspend large-scale ICE operations here in Maine.
Jonathan Stolley
Ellsworth
