Augusta – The ACLU of Maine, the League of Women Voters (LWVME) and a wide range of voting advocates will hold a press conference today at 12:30 at the State House to announce their support for an early voting proposal sponsored by Rep. Mike Shaw of Standish. “A Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Concerning Early Voting and Voting by Absentee Ballot” would give Maine voters an opportunity to amend the Maine Constitution to authorize the Legislature to establish a statewide system of early voting.
“Voting is the cornerstone of democracy, and we should encourage policies that make it easier for people to exercise that right while also making the entire process smoother,” said Shenna Bellows, executive director of the ACLU of Maine. “Early voting would make it easier for working parents, low-wage workers and all hard-working Mainers to make their voices heard at the polls.”
Currently, Maine has an in-person absentee voting system. Early voting is different from in-person absentee voting because ballots are cast immediately, not put aside to be cast by a clerk on Election Day. Early voting proposals arose in response to concerns from town clerks about the high volume of absentee ballots in recent elections. In some towns, absentee ballots make up 60 percent of all ballots cast.
“As the successful referendum to restore same-day voter registration proved, Mainers overwhelmingly support making it easier for all qualified voters to cast a ballot,” said Ann Luther of LWVME. “Early voting will allow greater access to the polls for voters while relieving clerks of the burden of processing thousands of absentee ballots on election day.”
Early voting has been tested with great success in pilot programs across the state, including in Rep. Shaw’s town of Standish.
“Mainers take great pride in voting, and it should be our goal as legislators to make the process as painless as possible,” said Rep. Shaw. “This proposal will both alleviate the burden on our election officials and encourage continued pride in voting by as many qualified Mainers as possible.”
The ACLU of Maine and the LWVME were leaders in the successful referendum campaign to restore same day registration in 2011 and headed up opposition to proposed voter ID requirements, which were successfully defeated in the last legislature.
More information is available online at www.aclu.org/earlyvoting
