Sun Journal: Maine bill would require its voters to show photo ID; in another bill, voters would lose same-day registration

"Maine for years has made voting as easy and convenient as possible. But casting ballots could soon become harder for some people under a proposal to require voters to present photo identification at the polls.
Supporters say requiring photo IDs is prudent to safeguard the state's election system. ...
But critics say the bill creates a barrier to voting — particularly for the elderly, young voters, the handicapped and homeless people. The law isn't needed because Maine doesn't have a voter fraud problem, said Shenna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union. ...
State Representative Richard Cebra, Republican-Naples, said he's sponsoring two bills in the Legislature that go hand-in-hand: the photo ID proposal and another that would require candidates for public office to provide proof of citizenship. ...
Maine for years has been known for its liberal election laws and it high voter turnouts. ...
Election-day registration could come to an end under another bill that would eliminate same-day voter registration and make people register in person at least a week in advance of an election."

 The entire article, with commenting, is at http://www.sunjournal.com/approved/story/993810

Maine: How to contact your own Maine state representative concerning these three bills:

• voter photo ID --  bill HP 176, LD 199 -- This bill requires that a voter provide proof of identity with photograph identification approved by the Secretary of State by rule for the purpose of voting.
• candidate proof of citizenship -- bill HP 27, LD 34 -- This bill requires candidates for public office to show proof of United States citizenship in the form of a certified copy of the candidate's birth certificate and the candidate's driver's license or other form of government-issued identification to the Secretary of State. 
• same-day voter registration -- bill SP 241, LD 797 -- Current law authorizes citizens of the State to register to vote on election day. This bill repeals that provision and instead requires that citizens of the State register to vote no later than 7 days preceding the election in order to vote in that election. The bill also requires that a person provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.  This bill also requires that a voter provide proof of identity with documentation approved by the Secretary of State by rule.  This bill also prohibits a municipal clerk from issuing a 2nd state absentee ballot to an applicant after a ballot has been returned by the applicant to the clerk, except for good cause, and stipulates that an applicant's decision to change a vote does not constitute good cause.

Remember, "voter turnout and activism means spreading the word!"