Maine MAGA Wants to Suppress Voting (of course)

A November ballot initiative would trash absentee voting - and more

We need to turn our eyes away from the utter madness happening in Washington DC for a moment. That’s because MAGA is active at the state level as well, and they have successfully put voting rights on the Maine ballot this November. I first sounded this alarm in early May, and November is coming faster than you think. The campaigning will be ramping up over the summer and hit full force after Labor Day.

The name of the group sponsoring the initiative is “Voter ID for Me.” “Voter ID” is always a tell that we’re talking about voter suppression. And that’s bad enough, but they’ve gone much further (details below). And they banked a $500,000 donation from the national Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC). Where did the RSLC get its money? The donors are listed here. Let’s just say that the Maine group (as of March 31) had received nearly 99% of its campaign funds from large, out-of-state business and political interests (Sheldon Adelson, Chevron, Dell, the US Chamber of Commerce…etc).

Oh, and guess who’s at the center of this voter suppression attempt? Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn), who is apparently dividing her time between this and doxxing trans athletes.

This is how the question will appear on the ballot:

Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?

Voter ID for ME sued over this language, which was written – as the law requires – by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. The law says that the Secretary of State “shall write the question in a clear, concise, and direct manner that describes the subject matter of the people’s veto or direct initiative as simply as possible.” (21-A MRS §906 (6) (B)). Incidentally, the same statute requires that the question be written such that a “yes” vote approves the question.

Bellows said the group had presented the initiative as a Voter ID initiative only, while the full text of the initiative would make changes to absentee voting and make other changes that could be problematic. The Maine Superior Court approved the language June 13.

The law also provides direction for the Superior Court in reviewing the language: “In reviewing the decision of the Secretary of State, the court shall determine whether the description of the subject matter is understandable to a reasonable voter reading the question for the first time and will not mislead a reasonable voter who understands the proposed legislation into voting contrary to that voter’s wishes.” (MRSA 21-A §905 (2))

Here’s what would happen if the initiative passes:

· Voters would be required to present a photo ID when they vote, even though they already presented it to register. (One voting rights group found that 1 in 10 voters don’t have an ID and that 12% of unexpired IDs were not up-to-date. Oh, and student IDs would not be acceptable.)

· Voters would no longer be able to request an absentee ballot by phone.

· Voters would no longer be able to have someone else pick up an absentee ballot for them. They would have to send or deliver themselves a written request for a ballot, and include a copy of their photo ID. (This would mean we can no longer help a busy spouse, a shiftworker, an elderly relative, or disabled person.)

· Voters would no longer be able to participate in “ongoing absentee voting,” under which they can have a ballot automatically mailed to them for each voting cycle. (This has been especially helpful for the elderly, disabled, and people without transportation.)

· The burden of proof to “cure” a ballot challenge by a poll watcher would shift to the voter, who would have 4 days to come back in person and prove the ballot is eligible. Currently, if a poll watcher challenges a ballot, they must prove that the ballot is ineligible. (This is a difficult change for someone who may have had trouble getting to the polls in the first place. And I can see some mischievous challenges happening.)

· Two days would be eliminated from the absentee voting period – for no apparent reason. (Although it may have something to do with the fact that the two days that would be eliminated are the two most popular.)

· Municipalities would be limited to one ballot drop box. Moreover, the duty of checking the drop boxes would be taken from the municipal clerk – a sworn election worker – and given to a “two-person bipartisan team.” (There are no details as to how that team would be chosen, to whom they would be responsible, and whether or not they would be sworn election workers.)

The Save Maine Absentee Voting Coalition is spearheading the grassroots opposition to this overt attempt to suppress voting in Maine. They have ideas on how you can help stop it.

This is an unusual post in that I’m not asking you to contact members of Congress. And contacting your state senators and representatives is not going to help either. This is now in the hands of We the People. We need to turn out to vote this down, we need to take actions like those promoted by the Save Maine Absentee Voting Coalition, and we need to talk to anyone who will listen.

MAGA is trying to drag us backwards, in so many ways. This is just one battle, but it’s important. We can’t let the forces of darkness prevail.