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In November, Mainers voted on whether to require voter ID at the polls. Of those who voted, 64% said no to voter ID. Yet, Sen. Susan Collins apparently thinks she knows better than her constituents and says she will vote yes on requiring voter ID at the polls.
For over 100 years, it has been illegal for non-U.S. citizens to vote in state and federal elections. In fact, the number of non-citizens who vote is vanishingly small.
What the SAVE America Act will do is make it harder for citizens to vote. For instance, military families who, in service to our country, often move from place to place will have an additional burden each time they register in a new locale. Women who change their name after marriage will have a new hurdle as their birth certificate name won’t match their married name. People of color who are much less likely to have a passport will be harmed by this new law.
In addition, the general election is a mere nine months away. Coordinating new requirements will put a huge financial and time burden on state and local officials who administer the election.
It is sad that Collins is not listening to the voices of her constituents and will be casting a vote for an unnecessary bill. Voters may remember this when we cast our votes for a senator in November.
Lisa Buck
Orono
