Maine Voter ID Proposal Qualifies for November Ballot
A proposal to require photo identification from voters at Maine polling places and make other voting restrictions has officially qualified for the November ballot. The Secretary of State’s office certified enough valid signatures to send the question to a statewide referendum after organizers collected over 170,000 signatures in support of the initiative.
If the question goes before voters in November, they will be asked if the state should require people to present a photo ID at the polls or when requesting an absentee ballot. The proposal also includes other changes such as limiting municipalities to one secured drop box for absentee ballots and setting up a new requirement for a bipartisan team of election officials to collect absentee ballots from drop boxes.
The proposal, brought forward by a group including Rep. Laurel Libby, has received criticism from opponents who argue that requiring identification can increase wait times and make it harder for some people to vote. Despite this opposition, the decision on the voter ID proposal is likely to be left to voters as the Democratic-controlled Legislature is expected to oppose the measure.
Currently, Maine requires identification when a new voter registers, but it is not required for registered voters to obtain a ballot. If the voter ID proposal is enacted, Maine would join 36 other states that either request or require voters to show identification at the polls. The story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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