Maine League of Young Voters: State Senator Patrick and UM student gov speak out against disenfranchisement bills

"On Friday the Maine Legal and Veterans Affairs committee voted to send the voting ID bill to the floor of the State Legislature. UM student government strongly opposes this bill, that could keep many students from being able to vote.
Thanks to Dirigo Blue for this radio address from State Senator Patrick yesterday.
Senate Dem Radio Address 5 March Senator John Patrick (Democrat) by Dirigo Blue www.dirigoblue.com

'WEEKLY ADDRESS
Maine Democrats
26 February 2011
Sen. John Patrick warns of two bills that would restrict voting rights
Good morning. I’m Senator John Patrick from Rumford. Thank you for
tuning in to the Democratic Weekly Radio Address.
Today I want to share with you something I recently learned.
We’re under attack.
Our civil liberties are being threatened. The very rights guaranteed
to us in the Constitution are at risk.
As the Democratic Lead on the Veteran and Legal Affairs Committee, I
have counted more than thirty bills seeking to restrict our voting
rights and obstruct the electoral process. Today I’m going to focus on a
few that pose the greatest concern because in each case it is an example
of a “solution” searching for a “problem”.
LD 199  requires voters to present a photo ID in order to vote. And
another bill, LD 203  eliminates same day voter registration.'"

The entire weekly address and article, with commenting, is at http://maine.theleague.com/state-senator-patrick-on-the-disenfranchisement-bills 

Maine: How to contact your own State Representative and State Senator concerning bill LD 199 and bill LD 203.

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

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!"

Brennan Center for Justice: Motor Voter Failures Demonstrate Need for Reform in Maryland

"Twenty-five percent of citizens who attempted to register to vote at Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) offices in Maryland in the past four years were not properly added to the voting rolls, the Baltimore Sun reported last week.  During that period, 120,000 citizens who submitted change-of-address information at the MVA did not have their voting records updated.  And alarmingly, officials at the Maryland State Board of Elections told the Sun that about 622,165 Maryland residents who are qualified to vote are not registered to do so.Such obvious failures to register voters violate the letter and spirit of federal law.  The National Voter Registration Act (also known as the "Motor Voter law"), among its many provisions, requires that states offer voter registration opportunities to eligible citizens who apply for driver’s licenses or come in to update their information at licensing agencies.
Rather than working toward more effective compliance with federal law, officials at the MVA have tried to justify their failures by pointing fingers at the poorly served voters themselves.  As the Sun reports, the MVA blamed motorists, who they say often tell clerks that they want to register to vote, but then fail to follow through by signing and returning the necessary forms.  Never mind the fact that federal law requires the state to update voter records based on change of address information submitted to the MVA regardless of whether the voter signs or submits any form. ...
Rather than displacing the fault on voters, Maryland should use this opportunity to achieve productive change and automate its voter registration system at the MVA.  As we detail in our report, Voter Registration in a Digital Age, many states have already automated their registration systems at motor vehicle offices.  Paperless registration in these states has proven to be cost-effective, more accurate, and increase registration rates. ...
Maryland’s MVA officials should have a conversation with their neighbors in Delaware to discuss ways to remedy its flawed registration system, as the Baltimore Sun, the NAACP, and the former chief of the U.S. Justice Department’s Voting Section have all urged.  The Brennan Center is also available for technical support.  For more information on voter registration modernization, please click here."

The entire article, without commenting, is at http://www.brennancenter.org/blog/archives/motor_voter_failures_demonstrate_need_for_reform_in_maryland/

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

Freedom Foundation: Court: Washington state’s voter registration practices do not violate federal election law

"The [State of Washington] Court of Appeals (Div. 2) ruled today that the Office of the Secretary of State is not violating federal election law by accepting voter registrations from underage applicants. The case was brought by the Freedom Foundation (formerly the Evergreen Freedom Foundation) on behalf of Washington resident and voter Robert Edelman."

http://www.myfreedomfoundation.com/index.php/site/view/court_states_registration_practices_do_not_violate_federal_election_law

Commenting is available below this article.

The Freedom Foundation states that "Records submitted with the complaint showed 127 votes cast by underage voters over an eight year period, including four votes in the February 2008 presidential primary. Mr. Edelman’s complaint also argued that the state’s voter registration application forms failed to advise underage applicants against completing the form."


Hat tip to Election Law.