PORTLAND - The ACLU of Maine today urged support for the accountable elections referendum, which will strengthen transparency and accountability laws and elevate the voice of everyday Mainers in our political system.
“We’re facing a problem in Augusta. Voting is the cornerstone of democracy, yet the enormous scale of spending on political campaigns is increasingly drowning out the voices of everyday Mainers,” said Alison Beyea, executive director of the ACLU of Maine. “This referendum will provide a solution to that problem by expanding the resources available for participation and increasing transparency in the political process.”
The ACLU of Maine recognizes that the integrity of the electoral system is of significant constitutional value. The public has a legitimate interest in knowing the source of large contributions, and carefully-drawn disclosure rules that won’t have a chilling effect on free speech can help the public make informed decisions.
The ACLU of Maine is the latest state-wide organization to join the broad, grassroots coalition – Mainers for Accountable Elections Coalition – that has formed in support of this year’s referendum. The measure was placed on the ballot thanks to more than 1,000 Mainers who gathered more than 80,000 signatures from Maine voters in favor of it.
