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Petition drive launched to repeal law that bans Election Day voter registration

Posted July 08, 2011, at 1:58 p.m.
Last modified July 08, 2011, at 10:12 p.m.
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BANGOR, Maine — A broad coalition of labor groups, community activists and volunteers from across the state on Friday launched a petition drive aimed at repealing a recent change in Maine law that bans voter registration on Election Day.

Just two days after Secretary of State Charles Summers approved the wording of the people’s veto question, supporters of the repeal gathered in Bangor, Lewiston and Portland to begin gathering more than 57,000 signatures.

The coalition of organizations also launched the formation of a political action committee, Protect Maine Voters.

Ann Luther, a member of the board of directors for the League of Women Voters of Maine, said same-day voter registration is one of the single-most important measures the state has instituted to improve voter turnout.

“Nothing, especially not government, should be getting in the way of our right to vote,” Luther said Friday afternoon at an event in Bangor.

Maine consistently ranks in the top five states for voter turnout and in the last two major November elections alone, 70,000 voters have registered on Election Day.

“Voting is fundamental to our democracy and a basic right of every citizen,” said campaign manager Mark Gray. “Maine’s elections are well-run, efficient and of the highest integrity. Our state has the third-highest voter participation rate in the country, only Wisconsin and Minnesota rank higher and in both states citizens have the right to register to vote on Election Day. We should be proud of that achievement instead of trying to undo it.”

LD 1376, sponsored by House Speaker Robert Nutting, R-Oakland, passed through the House and Senate amid contentious debate and was signed by Gov. Paul LePage.

In addition to eliminating same-day voter registration, the legislation bans absentee voting two days before Election Day, although the people’s veto applies only to the portion that deals with Election Day registration.

Since 1973, Maine has allowed voters to register that same day they cast their vote.

The recent votes in the Legislature were largely along party lines and the law change is one of many wins cited by the newly elected Republican majority. Supporters said the changes would cut down on Election Day mistakes and relieve stress on municipal election officials.

Charlie Webster, chair of the Maine Republican Party, has been candid in recent comments alleging that same-day voter registration has allowed Democrats to steal elections. Critics have countered that there is no evidence of major voter fraud in Maine history.

If enough signatures are gathered by the Aug. 8 deadline, the following question will appear on the November ballot: “Do you want to reject the section of Chapter 399 of the Public Laws of 2011 that requires new voters to register to vote at least two business days prior to an election?”

Webster said Friday that he plans to wait and see how the signature gathering goes before he worries about forming a coalition to protect the new law.

“There is no groundswell for this other than from these liberal groups,” he said. “But, we’ ll be a key player if we have to.”

Ryan Tipping-Spitz with the Maine People’s Alliance said a month is not a lot of time to gather such a large number of signatures, but he said hundreds of volunteer gatherers have signed up already and will begin work this weekend.

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  • Anonymous

    I hope the people collecting signatures are passing out voter registrastion cards, too.

  • Anonymous

    I hope the people collecting signatures are passing out voter registrastion cards, too.

  • Anonymous

    It’s not intended to be that, but the petition drive will be an interesting little referendum on the the first 6 months of the LePage administration.

  • Anonymous

    It’s not intended to be that, but the petition drive will be an interesting little referendum on the the first 6 months of the LePage administration.

  • Anonymous

    It’s not intended to be that, but the petition drive will be an interesting little referendum on the the first 6 months of the LePage administration.

  • Anonymous

    Let me get this right, LD1376 eliminated same-day voter registration AND banned absentee voting two days before Election Day

    Ann Luther, a member of the board of directors for the League of
    Women Voters of Maine, said “Nothing, especially not government, should be getting in the way of
    our right to vote.”

    Mark Gray the campaign manager said “Voting is fundamental to our democracy and a basic right of every citizen.”

    So if “Nothing, especially not government, should be getting in the way of
    our right to vote” and
    “Voting is fundamental to our democracy and a basic right of every citizen” why is the petition asking only for the repeal of same day registration?

    Isn’t the person that wishes to vote absentee on the day before the election just as important as the person that wants to register to vote on the day of the election? Aren’t we going to “disenfranchise” a segment of voters by allowing a “piece” of the law to stand? 

    If this law is so bad for “democracy” and is a barrier “getting in the way of
    our right to vote” shouldn’t the whole law be subject to repeal?

    Seems that the petition supporters are speaking out of both sides of their mouths at the same time.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1196926029 Dale Richardson

    Good point,  I like to absentee vote on Monday, that way i can have all the latest vital information to make an informed vote, but avoid the crowds at the polls which I can’t handle due to an anxiety disorder.   I guess I can just go vote on the preceding Thursday, no big deal.  The issue with same day voting is that, it opens up the ability for municipalities to change voting districts, and some people might not realize this until election day, in which case they’d be out of luck, that and college students who have as much right to vote as anyone else despite what the conservatives wish. 

  • Anonymous

    I think it’s amusing watching these groups scramble to figure out what laws to repeal. Let them waste their time and resources on something like this while the more important laws sail on through because the moonbats are too busy to notice.

  • kcjonez

    “As Governor-Elect LePage has said: if it is to be, it is up to us.  Together we can put people before politics and build a brighter future for Maine.”  
    As every progressive in the state says,  If it is to be, it is up to us.  Together we can put people before politics and build a brighter future for Maine.”  

    A future where voting will be encouraged by any means necessary, not discouraged for any partisan political cause.  

  • kcjonez

    “As Governor-Elect LePage has said: if it is to be, it is up to us.  Together we can put people before politics and build a brighter future for Maine.”  
    As every progressive in the state says,  If it is to be, it is up to us.  Together we can put people before politics and build a brighter future for Maine.”  

    A future where voting will be encouraged by any means necessary, not discouraged for any partisan political cause.  

  • Anonymous

    Often when you run these types of petitions you need to prioritize the portions that you find most egregious to give a better chance of success… that is simply what is going on. Same day registration has been an important and lauded part of Maine’s election system for decades.

  • Anonymous

    But why petition to repeal only 1 piece of this law? Why not the whole law?

  • Anonymous

    Change your quote to the following;  “Same day registration has been an important and lauded part of Maine’s election system for a decade on college campuses and among non-citizens.”

    There fixed that.

  • Anonymous

    I have listened to both sides (my personal opinion is this law was not a big deal and mirrors voting laws in the majority of the states) and one side claims “voter fraud” and the other side claims “Nothing, especially not government, should be getting in the way of our
    right to vote” and “Voting is fundamental to our democracy and a basic
    right of every citizen”.

    If voting is such a fundamental right, then repeal the whole law and nothing at all.

    Every time one party or the other opens their mouths to declare this is wrong I lose just a little more respect for each side.

  • http://twitter.com/z_gryphon Ben Hutchins

    You have to pick your battles when you’re fighting the hydra.  Cut off one stupid law and it’s liable to spawn two more.

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    Last time I checked, you only had to Register to vote once, so what’s the big issue? Only new people or people that move have to deal with registering, so how is the “dis-enfranchising” anyone? People need to stop being lazy and stop making excuses not to vote. If voting is so fundamental then why are numbers as they are, whether they have gone up or not, they are still not good enough.

  • Anonymous

    So is my absentee vote some how less valuable than someone walking in on election day looking to vote?

  • Anonymous

    Way to reinforce stereotypes of northern maine when jd left out both m00nbat and t3abagg3r.

    Good jerb there bub. 

  • Anonymous

    Thank You…

    Obviously some people here think you have to reregister every year….

  • Anonymous

    Personally I think that they should repeal the whole thing, but it is much more likely that voters will repeal it part by part than as a whole… I think that the petition is a move back in the right direction even if it doesn’t do the whole job.

  • Anonymous

    Personally I think that they should repeal the whole thing, but it is much more likely that voters will repeal it part by part than as a whole… I think that the petition is a move back in the right direction even if it doesn’t do the whole job.

  • Anonymous

     Northern Maine?  What’s you talkin about Willis? 
    Someone must have added some moonbattery to  your champagne spritzer.

  • Anonymous

    Glad that you write off the opinions of people just because they are associated with college campuses… people working toward a higher education aren’t allowed to have an opinion?

    In the past I was a student at public university in Maine and used same day registration to vote… but you would be terribly incorrect if you thought I wasn’t a citizen or a resident of Maine at the time. I have spent nearly all of my life in Maine, grew up in Maine, graduated high school in Maine, have worked and paid taxes in Maine. Can you explain to me why I shouldn’t have been allowed to vote while I was working to better my education?

  • Anonymous

    College students have just as much right to vote as everyone else.

  • Anonymous

    College students have just as much right to vote as everyone else.

  • Anonymous

    I am willing to bet a weeks pay that no one will move to repeal the ban on absentee voting 2 days prior to election day if this People’s Veto passes.

    It just doesn’t have the same “outrage” factor as ending election day registering.

  • Anonymous

    I am willing to bet a weeks pay that no one will move to repeal the ban on absentee voting 2 days prior to election day if this People’s Veto passes.

    It just doesn’t have the same “outrage” factor as ending election day registering.

  • Anonymous

    Why do you feel the need to talk like someone in Middle School? Actually, most students in Middle School show more respect to other people than you do.

  • Anonymous

    Why do you feel the need to talk like someone in Middle School? Actually, most students in Middle School show more respect to other people than you do.

  • Anonymous

    They are usually able to stumble down to the voting place right after thinking long and hard about how to get the keg tap working, cleaning out the bong and maybe turning off MTV. Of course, that’s after they already voted absentee in the town they came from.

  • Anonymous

    They are usually able to stumble down to the voting place right after thinking long and hard about how to get the keg tap working, cleaning out the bong and maybe turning off MTV. Of course, that’s after they already voted absentee in the town they came from.

  • Anonymous

    You sound like a nice fellow, you can vote. The rest…no.

  • Anonymous

    Okay if these people are so concerned about voting and democracy,why didn’t they register before hand?

  • Anonymous

    You like to paint with a mighty big brush mithraditie. Most of the college students I know are responsible citizens that want to exercise their rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

    But your description does fit many adults that I come in contact with on a fairly regular basis.

    Oh, and if your description is accurate how is it that they would remember to vote absentee in their hometown?

  • Anonymous

    You like to paint with a mighty big brush mithraditie. Most of the college students I know are responsible citizens that want to exercise their rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

    But your description does fit many adults that I come in contact with on a fairly regular basis.

    Oh, and if your description is accurate how is it that they would remember to vote absentee in their hometown?

  • Anonymous

    You like to paint with a mighty big brush mithraditie. Most of the college students I know are responsible citizens that want to exercise their rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

    But your description does fit many adults that I come in contact with on a fairly regular basis.

    Oh, and if your description is accurate how is it that they would remember to vote absentee in their hometown?

  • Anonymous

    You like to paint with a mighty big brush mithraditie. Most of the college students I know are responsible citizens that want to exercise their rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

    But your description does fit many adults that I come in contact with on a fairly regular basis.

    Oh, and if your description is accurate how is it that they would remember to vote absentee in their hometown?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Edward-Lachowicz/100000535475609 Edward Lachowicz

    The absentees two days before an election are actually a significant burden on clerks attempting to prepare for E-Day, unlike same day registration. I’ve seen this first hand.

  • Anonymous

    Well I know a Town Clerk who feels that same day registration is a significant burden too.

    Now, would you like to answer the question asked?

    So is my absentee vote some how less valuable than someone walking in on election day looking to vote?

  • Anonymous

    Well I know a Town Clerk who feels that same day registration is a significant burden too.

    Now, would you like to answer the question asked?

    So is my absentee vote some how less valuable than someone walking in on election day looking to vote?

  • Anonymous

    Well I know a Town Clerk who feels that same day registration is a significant burden too.

    Now, would you like to answer the question asked?

    So is my absentee vote some how less valuable than someone walking in on election day looking to vote?

  • Anonymous

    Well I know a Town Clerk who feels that same day registration is a significant burden too.

    Now, would you like to answer the question asked?

    So is my absentee vote some how less valuable than someone walking in on election day looking to vote?

  • Anonymous

    Well I know a Town Clerk who feels that same day registration is a significant burden too.

    Now, would you like to answer the question asked?

    So is my absentee vote some how less valuable than someone walking in on election day looking to vote?

  • Anonymous

    Well I know a Town Clerk who feels that same day registration is a significant burden too.

    Now, would you like to answer the question asked?

    So is my absentee vote some how less valuable than someone walking in on election day looking to vote?

  • Anonymous

    Well I know a Town Clerk who feels that same day registration is a significant burden too.

    Now, would you like to answer the question asked?

    So is my absentee vote some how less valuable than someone walking in on election day looking to vote?

  • Anonymous

    Well I know a Town Clerk who feels that same day registration is a significant burden too.

    Now, would you like to answer the question asked?

    So is my absentee vote some how less valuable than someone walking in on election day looking to vote?

  • Anonymous

     That’s the pot calling the kettle black there “bub”.

  • Anonymous

     That’s the pot calling the kettle black there “bub”.

  • Anonymous

    I think he means that the real die-hard lefty college kids are probably voting twice.

  • Anonymous

    I think he means that the real die-hard lefty college kids are probably voting twice.

  • Anonymous

    I think he means that the real die-hard lefty college kids are probably voting twice.

  • Anonymous

    I think he means that the real die-hard lefty college kids are probably voting twice.

  • Anonymous

    I think he means that the real die-hard lefty college kids are probably voting twice.

  • Anonymous

    I think he means that the real die-hard lefty college kids are probably voting twice.

  • Anonymous

    They don’t want to tackle the ban on early voting because so many of the lefties are saddened that they voted for Libby Mitchell during early voting and couldn’t go back and vote for Cutler when he surged at the end. In a piece of hypocrisy they want to ban early voting because it hurts their cause but want to keep same day registration becasuse it HELPS them. So you see JD, they want to keep that problem from happening again and possibly re-electing LePage…  so no early voting for you.

  • AionNV

    Why make it harder to vote ?  Sounds undemocratic to me.

  • Anonymous

    Why not let fifteen year olds vote and heck, lets vote on the computer via Facebook. Anything else sounds undemocratic. 

  • Anonymous

    Why not let fifteen year olds vote and heck, lets vote on the computer via Facebook. Anything else sounds undemocratic. 

  • Anonymous

    Why not let fifteen year olds vote and heck, lets vote on the computer via Facebook. Anything else sounds undemocratic. 

  • Anonymous

    I wonder how many people that register on election day actually know what or who they are voting for?

  • Anonymous

    I wonder how many people that register on election day actually know what or who they are voting for?

  • Anonymous

    Sorry to spoil your evening but I voted early and for Cutler.

    I just thinks it is disingenuous to claim that you are using a People’s Veto is to “restore” a democratic right to vote while ignoring the removal of two days of absentee voting

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    How is making it harder? Truthfully. 1. Like was said earlier, you only have to register once, under normal circumstances. 2. I personally know people, who work over 60-70 hours per week, yet they had enough time to go vote. All EXCUSES for the lazy, just like Absentee, which is meant for Military, People out of area, etc. Not for someone who is too lazy to drive/walk down to the several sites per city to cast a vote. I’m amazed you people aren’t trying to repeal that as well.

    Undemocratic. Give me a break. You people do not know what democracy is…

  • Anonymous

    Legal Maine residents… if you’re not registered, what are you doing next week? For the price of a stamp…

    …”Completed voter registration cards may be hand delivered or mailed to your town office or
    city hall, or sent to the Secretary of State’s Office in Augusta.”

    http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voterguide.html

  • Anonymous

    Legal Maine residents… if you’re not registered, what are you doing next week? For the price of a stamp…

    …”Completed voter registration cards may be hand delivered or mailed to your town office or
    city hall, or sent to the Secretary of State’s Office in Augusta.”

    http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voterguide.html

  • Anonymous

    Legal Maine residents… if you’re not registered, what are you doing next week? For the price of a stamp…

    …”Completed voter registration cards may be hand delivered or mailed to your town office or
    city hall, or sent to the Secretary of State’s Office in Augusta.”

    http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voterguide.html

  • Anonymous

    Legal Maine residents… if you’re not registered, what are you doing next week? For the price of a stamp…

    …”Completed voter registration cards may be hand delivered or mailed to your town office or
    city hall, or sent to the Secretary of State’s Office in Augusta.”

    http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voterguide.html

  • Anonymous

    Legal Maine residents… if you’re not registered, what are you doing next week? For the price of a stamp…

    …”Completed voter registration cards may be hand delivered or mailed to your town office or
    city hall, or sent to the Secretary of State’s Office in Augusta.”

    http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voterguide.html

  • Anonymous

    Legal Maine residents… if you’re not registered, what are you doing next week? For the price of a stamp…

    …”Completed voter registration cards may be hand delivered or mailed to your town office or
    city hall, or sent to the Secretary of State’s Office in Augusta.”

    http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voterguide.html

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BUY67LOCK4324INLWGYFFRNJOM Robert

    But its ok for the black panther party to go out and intimidate people at voting places and then get away with it because we have a black president and a black attorney general?  And if you think that this has nothing to do with it, you’re so wrong.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BUY67LOCK4324INLWGYFFRNJOM Robert

    But its ok for the black panther party to go out and intimidate people at voting places and then get away with it because we have a black president and a black attorney general?  And if you think that this has nothing to do with it, you’re so wrong.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BUY67LOCK4324INLWGYFFRNJOM Robert

    But its ok for the black panther party to go out and intimidate people at voting places and then get away with it because we have a black president and a black attorney general?  And if you think that this has nothing to do with it, you’re so wrong.

  • Anonymous

    I wonder how many who vote before know what or who they are voting for?

  • Anonymous

    I wonder how many who vote before know what or who they are voting for?

  • Anonymous

    I wonder how many who vote before know what or who they are voting for?

  • Anonymous

    70,000 voters registered on Election Day in the last 2 major elections in Maine. That is a positive thing.   The more people who get out and vote the better.  There is no good  reason to change what was working. 

  • Anonymous

    I know some Town Clerks in Bangor who say same day voter registration was no problem at all.    A vote by absentee, a vote a few days before, a vote on Election day……all important!

  • Anonymous

    Nice try…..no go!

  • Anonymous

    I think this is a discussion of a Maine Law. I haven’t seen to many “Black Panthers” hanging out at any of the polling places I’ve voted at. 

  • Anonymous

    Nice try….no go.

  • Anonymous

    Wow, wonder what world you live in. Maybe you don’t get around. There are so many serious, grounded , responsible and very intelligent college students out there.  I have seen , though, from some commentators here who  seem to criticize higher education a lot.  That is incomprehensible.  Or, maybe they do not have a college education, so try and downgrade it.  Not a very laudable attitude or outlook.

  • Anonymous

    That’s what lepage said….

  • Anonymous

    That’s what lepage said….

  • Anonymous

    I am so glad you got to vote when you did, and hope there will be many others like you who will have no unnecessary barriers placed in their voting path!

  • Anonymous

    I am so glad you got to vote when you did, and hope there will be many others like you who will have no unnecessary barriers placed in their voting path!

  • Anonymous

    I am so glad you got to vote when you did, and hope there will be many others like you who will have no unnecessary barriers placed in their voting path!

  • Anonymous

    I am so glad you got to vote when you did, and hope there will be many others like you who will have no unnecessary barriers placed in their voting path!

  • Anonymous

    You have to register every time you change your place of residence.  Duh.

  • Anonymous

    You have to register every time you change your place of residence.  Duh.

  • Anonymous

    You have to register every time you change your place of residence.  Duh.

  • Anonymous

    You are “bub”??
    I don’t think so.

  • Anonymous

    You are “bub”??
    I don’t think so.

  • Anonymous

    You are “bub”??
    I don’t think so.

  • Anonymous

    You are “bub”??
    I don’t think so.

  • Anonymous

    Where does it say that absentee balloting is affected by this law?

  • Anonymous

    Where does it say that absentee balloting is affected by this law?

  • Anonymous

    Wait, did it say that Robert Nutting sponsored this law?  Pardon me while I puke!

  • Anonymous

    If the right to vote is soooo important to people then why would they wait to register at the last  minute. When my son turned 18 he got a registration card and signed up. We have deadlines for all kinds of things. Set a rule and then follow it. What next,  hey I forgot to vote yesterday and I really wanted they other guy to win so can I vote today for yesterdays election?

  • Anonymous

    I have also heard that concerning the absentee ballots. However, like same day voting, I am 100% behind absentee voting (and went that route once myself.)  All should be viable. A little extra work at election time?  I do not hear many complaining about that  when they realize how important the right to vote is in this country and how it should be encouraged, not discouraged.

  • Anonymous

    Wow, what a stretch. That reeks of desperation.

  • Anonymous

    Wow, what a stretch. That reeks of desperation.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BUY67LOCK4324INLWGYFFRNJOM Robert

    No desperation at all.  Just making a point!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BUY67LOCK4324INLWGYFFRNJOM Robert

    No desperation at all.  Just making a point!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BUY67LOCK4324INLWGYFFRNJOM Robert

    No desperation at all.  Just making a point!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BUY67LOCK4324INLWGYFFRNJOM Robert

    No desperation at all.  Just making a point!

  • Artie_LaGrange

    Wow, talk about straining at a Gnat. Hey, there are two hundred and fifty other days to register. You people need to get a grip on reality!!!

  • Anonymous

    Fair Question

    9th Paragraph

    “In addition to eliminating same-day voter registration, the legislation
    bans absentee voting two days before Election Day, although the people’s
    veto applies only to the portion that deals with Election Day
    registration.”

  • Anonymous

    Fair Question

    9th Paragraph

    “In addition to eliminating same-day voter registration, the legislation
    bans absentee voting two days before Election Day, although the people’s
    veto applies only to the portion that deals with Election Day
    registration.”

  • Anonymous

    Fair Question

    9th Paragraph

    “In addition to eliminating same-day voter registration, the legislation
    bans absentee voting two days before Election Day, although the people’s
    veto applies only to the portion that deals with Election Day
    registration.”

  • Anonymous

    They need to BE registrated to vote YES to repeal the corporatist, anti-democracy,
    anti-youth vote  law just passed by the old Tea Bagger, tax grumps,
    and they can’t do it on voting day anymore, you dolts.

    Besides that, just on general principle:
    If you are asking  people to protect democracy by signing a petition to make voting easier for everyone….  
    but only if they are resistered voters, because their support  doesn’t count in Augusta if they are not resistered, just do it,
    …. unless of course, your point is really to limit the vote to those of your correct political purity ?

    IS THAT IT,  REALLY ?????  .

    It is common sense to register people to vote whenever you can, 
    and  that is just what the those darn radical leftists of the Leauge of Woman Voters,
    supporters of this drive,  is supposed to be all about, isn’t it ?

    Can  conservative see anything beyond their hatred of ALL THOSE SORT OF PEOPLE,
    and their own taxes, without their bifocals ?

    What kind of future do they see ?

    The past and present is foggy to them, as well,
     if they can’t  connect the dots and see that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy
    don’t filter Downeast to Maine …. none at all … do they ? 
     
    So isn’t doing the same thing over and over, expecting different economic results
    just what these conservatives, here, are ?

  • Anonymous

    How do you vote, generally, Red or Blue ?

  • Anonymous

    I did the same thing and so did my daughter. But the question is why is the petition only for one piece of the law, why not the whole law?

  • Anonymous

    I did the same thing and so did my daughter. But the question is why is the petition only for one piece of the law, why not the whole law?

  • Anonymous

    In the tax grump propaganda handbook, may-be ?

  • Anonymous

    In the tax grump propaganda handbook, may-be ?

  • Anonymous

    That would make them just like the people who think we can reduce the deficit witout raising revenue, wouldn’t it ? 

  • Anonymous

    That would make them just like the people who think we can reduce the deficit witout raising revenue, wouldn’t it ? 

  • Anonymous

    Why not ?

    Can you tell us why you want less Americans, not more, to vote, please ? 

    LePage got what percent of the votes cast, again ?

  • listenuppeople

    They’re should be a State Registery.  If you’re a student in Orono and voted early in Orono, then come to Bangor and claim you live with a friend in Bangor on the day of the Election, you get to vote again… What ought to happen is someone should check by the counties and see if people vote in more then  one town.  If they did, then the jail time should be no less then 5 years imprisonment for trying to overthrow an election…. Say what you want about making it easier to vote if you register the same day as you vote, it’s just about fraud… The last time I voted I heard 2 young men laughing about how easy it was to vote in Bangor when they live out of town, they just picked a address with apartments and claimed they lived there… I think the wait time should be a month… I believe the people trying to repeal the law know exactly the problem with voting once/twice and even 3 or 4 times and they want to protect possible fraud… 70,000 people signed up on 2 of the last election days????   We need to investigate all of it…. What about The city of Bangor not having Locked ballot boxes, and  then when one is filled they just leave it in the back room and start with another box.. Is that even legal??? I asked about it the last two times I was there and the people watching the boxes in the voting room thought it was funny they weren’t locked… These people need to be deputize to do this..  These things need to be checked out all of them!!!!!!!

  • Anonymous

    Thank you.  Then that affects a whole lot more potential voters than I thought.  My son is an eligible voter who lives overseas and votes absentee.  Does that mean his vote won’t count unless it’s postmarked received 48 hours prior to election day?  Would that perhaps count out thousands of deployed soldiers?  (I’m not saying my son is one.)  I don’t know why the petition to repeal left this part out, but I think it should be included.  Perhaps another petition to repeal is in order.

  • Anonymous

    Thank you.  Then that affects a whole lot more potential voters than I thought.  My son is an eligible voter who lives overseas and votes absentee.  Does that mean his vote won’t count unless it’s postmarked received 48 hours prior to election day?  Would that perhaps count out thousands of deployed soldiers?  (I’m not saying my son is one.)  I don’t know why the petition to repeal left this part out, but I think it should be included.  Perhaps another petition to repeal is in order.

  • Anonymous

    Do you think that the vote of the person who walks in on election day is worth less than your absentee vote?

  • Anonymous

    Do you think that the vote of the person who walks in on election day is worth less than your absentee vote?

  • Anonymous

    There is an authoritarian, for you.

    Always question authority…. his, especially.

    And if [people are not allowed to do so at the polls,
    then the spirit of the Founding Fathers, so traditional American values,
    suggests using any means required.  

    It that what the conservatives want, now ?

    It is what their anti-democractic policies suggest they are aiming for.

  • Anonymous

    There is an authoritarian, for you.

    Always question authority…. his, especially.

    And if [people are not allowed to do so at the polls,
    then the spirit of the Founding Fathers, so traditional American values,
    suggests using any means required.  

    It that what the conservatives want, now ?

    It is what their anti-democractic policies suggest they are aiming for.

  • Anonymous

    There is an authoritarian, for you.

    Always question authority…. his, especially.

    And if [people are not allowed to do so at the polls,
    then the spirit of the Founding Fathers, so traditional American values,
    suggests using any means required.  

    It that what the conservatives want, now ?

    It is what their anti-democractic policies suggest they are aiming for.

  • Anonymous

    There is an authoritarian, for you.

    Always question authority…. his, especially.

    And if [people are not allowed to do so at the polls,
    then the spirit of the Founding Fathers, so traditional American values,
    suggests using any means required.  

    It that what the conservatives want, now ?

    It is what their anti-democractic policies suggest they are aiming for.

  • Anonymous

    There is an authoritarian, for you.

    Always question authority…. his, especially.

    And if [people are not allowed to do so at the polls,
    then the spirit of the Founding Fathers, so traditional American values,
    suggests using any means required.  

    It that what the conservatives want, now ?

    It is what their anti-democractic policies suggest they are aiming for.

  • Anonymous

    Got alot of those black panthers in your part of Maine do you? Sure don’t have any in the Maine I live in.

  • Anonymous

    But that’s their job!

  • Anonymous

    Right, and God forbid those die-hard lefties should be allowed to vote.

  • Anonymous

    Right, and God forbid those die-hard lefties should be allowed to vote.

  • Anonymous

    I’m so glad Robert Nutting has sponsored this legislation to prevent voter fraud.  When is he going to tackle Medicare and Medicaid fraud?

  • Anonymous

    I’m so glad Robert Nutting has sponsored this legislation to prevent voter fraud.  When is he going to tackle Medicare and Medicaid fraud?

  • Anonymous

    That poster is probably concerned about boogie men as well as black panthers.

  • Anonymous

    There is another poster with a username similar to yours, but as soon as I read the comments, I know it is not you! (diametrically opposed.)

  • Anonymous

    There is another poster with a username similar to yours, but as soon as I read the comments, I know it is not you! (diametrically opposed.)

  • Anonymous

    What sounds undemocratic is the people that want this repealed because they are too lazy to register 365 days or so before the next election!

  • Anonymous

    They should vote in their home state not here, why should we allow out of state residents the right to vote in an election.  They should register to vote and vote absentee in their home state. That is the problem with Liberals they want to find every voting block they can to keep them and their socialist agenda in power.

  • Anonymous

    They should vote in their home state not here, why should we allow out of state residents the right to vote in an election.  They should register to vote and vote absentee in their home state. That is the problem with Liberals they want to find every voting block they can to keep them and their socialist agenda in power.

  • Anonymous

    If I remember correctly, and I’m sure I do, wasn’t it all the radical right tea party crowd that spent all that time last fall and winter telling us how lazy and under worked government employees were? Now they are  all of a sudden so so concerned about the stress levels and over working municipal clerks.

  • Anonymous

    If I remember correctly, and I’m sure I do, wasn’t it all the radical right tea party crowd that spent all that time last fall and winter telling us how lazy and under worked government employees were? Now they are  all of a sudden so so concerned about the stress levels and over working municipal clerks.

  • Anonymous

    If I remember correctly, and I’m sure I do, wasn’t it all the radical right tea party crowd that spent all that time last fall and winter telling us how lazy and under worked government employees were? Now they are  all of a sudden so so concerned about the stress levels and over working municipal clerks.

  • Anonymous

    Good catch. You’re good.  
    The contradictions continue and abound.   But they wouldn’t see it, or would try and twist that somehow to fit their position.
    However,  the contradiction is clear.

  • Anonymous

    I would not doubt that at all.

  • Anonymous

    Not that it really matters but you could say I am a purple voter. I have voted Republican at times, Democrat at other times and Independent at others. I no longer believe in voting a “party line” but now vote for the single candidate that I feel has the best answer to the problems we face. How about you?

  • Anonymous

    Not that it really matters but you could say I am a purple voter. I have voted Republican at times, Democrat at other times and Independent at others. I no longer believe in voting a “party line” but now vote for the single candidate that I feel has the best answer to the problems we face. How about you?

  • Anonymous

    They are real uninformed in thinking all college students are lefties. But then, what if they were?  They certainly are not trying to limit lefties of any age, etc., from voting, now are they?!  Oh no..

  • Anonymous

    They are real uninformed in thinking all college students are lefties. But then, what if they were?  They certainly are not trying to limit lefties of any age, etc., from voting, now are they?!  Oh no..

  • Anonymous

    Here is an interesting little fact when my daughter went away to college. We notified the insurance company that one of our vehicles was going to be “out of state” while she was at college. The insurance company told us, that she was no longer a resident of the state of Maine and she would have to insure locally in New York. Kind of interesting that in some cases a “dorm room” is now considered to be a legal residence for insurance purposes.

  • Anonymous

    listenuppeople the Secretary of States office already does what you describe and that is how a person was caught last November voting twice.

  • Anonymous

    listenuppeople the Secretary of States office already does what you describe and that is how a person was caught last November voting twice.

  • Anonymous

    listenuppeople the Secretary of States office already does what you describe and that is how a person was caught last November voting twice.

  • Anonymous

    Why don’t you read the article before you post?

  • Anonymous

    I know it is far fetched, but I wonder when they will start telling us how good unions are? Aren’t they the same group that was all for carrying concealed weapons just about everywhere including the house chambers right up until the “Fred” incident? Then all of a sudden they decided that guns in the house might not be such a good idea. What a crowd.

  • Anonymous

    Robert Nutting shouldn’t be sponsoring laws.  He should be in jail. It’s so nice to know “the law” is on the side of white Christian males.

  • Anonymous

    Robert Nutting shouldn’t be sponsoring laws.  He should be in jail. It’s so nice to know “the law” is on the side of white Christian males.

  • Anonymous

    Lol.  It does get a bit “confusing” doesn’t it?  “Far-fetched”?  Not so much!
    If you ever figure it out, let me know!  But, I think I will stick to what I believe and let them have theirs, thank you very much!

    (It is definitely good Fred was all right….really….but if it had been a “lefty” , from what I have heard on here, not so much concern would be forthcoming!)

  • Anonymous

    Lol.

  • Anonymous

    Instead of signing the whiny, namby-pamby, crybaby petition go and register to vote.
    Easy enough.
    Case closed.

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    How many times does one person actually move? Duh. You don’t have to move every time you vote, so therefore you do not have to register every time you vote.

  • Anonymous

    The new law is not prohibitting you from voting; it is mandating that citizens of Maine need to register to vote at least 2 business days prior to voting. I don’t see the issue (maybe I am overlooking something); part of becoming an adult and exercising our voting privilege is to register to vote. This is normally a one time occasion unless you move; if you are serious about participating in voting, why would you wait until election day to register?  

  • Anonymous

    Dorm rooms are also considered residence for the purpose of the Census.  It makes sense actually since the students live here nine months out of the year.  In fact, it looks like they are more citizens of Maine than the LePage’s are.  How many months out of the year are they in Maine.

  • Anonymous

    Totally agree with you – those simple-minded liberals who think that they can raise revenue merely by increasing taxes.  Don’t they realize that every time taxes are lowered across the board (see Reagan, Bush II tax cuts), federal revenues soared?

  • Anonymous

    Wow…that’s so hard to do…and so disenfranchising.   Those mean old republicans. 

  • Anonymous

    Now, 70k voters can register before the election.  I figured that out by hitting my Staples “Easy” button. 

  • Anonymous

    Right.   But why stop there?   Let’s make it just like basebal All Star voting – vote up to 25 times on line, plus at the ballpark.  

  • Anonymous

    Good point – because my town office only allows Christian white males inside the office every day except Election Day when it opens for everyone.  I’m sure yours operates the same way. 
    Really? 
    Great job with the diversity trifecta by the way.  That was a nice touch.

  • Anonymous

    Not in the least impressed.

  • Anonymous

    1 out of every 6 Mainers move every 18-24 months, mostly those who rent or who are young. They must re-register every time they change addresses. That means up to 200,000 voters are affected every voting day. Re-registering is not usually at the top of everyone’s things-to-do list after they move.

    The new law mandates that registration must be completed 21 days before election day. What becomes of all those that change addresses during that period? Why should we be making a basic American right more difficult just because of a fear that a few people who won’t change the outcome of an election might try to vote twice?

    This new law is just an attempt to keep young and lower income people, who might be more inclined to vote less conservatively, from being able to exercise their right under the constitution.

    The old law worked just fine. The new law should be repealed.

  • Anonymous

    1 out of every 6 Mainers move every 18-24 months, mostly those who rent or who are young. They must re-register every time they change addresses. That means up to 200,000 voters are affected every voting day. Re-registering is not usually at the top of everyone’s things-to-do list after they move.

    The new law mandates that registration must be completed 21 days before election day. What becomes of all those that change addresses during that period? Why should we be making a basic American right more difficult just because of a fear that a few people who won’t change the outcome of an election might try to vote twice?

    This new law is just an attempt to keep young and lower income people, who might be more inclined to vote less conservatively, from being able to exercise their right under the constitution.

    The old law worked just fine. The new law should be repealed.

  • Anonymous

    The law may not prevent someone from voting but it certainly doesn’t make it convenient for people who should have the right to vote. Registering days ahead could require multiple trips to the polling location or require them to return home just to vote, which I know is inconvenient for many college students who often lack easy transportation, often live hours from home, work odd hours at odd jobs, and have class schedules largely out of their control. I have personally moved around quite a bit in the last few years and been careful to register so that I may vote and participate in the democratic process.

    I think it is honorable to want to register to vote and participate in the democratic system… why not let someone do it the same day they vote? All they ask is to be allowed to participate and I haven’t seen a shred of real evidence that significant voter fraud has occurred under the same day registration law. This law was designed to “solve” a problem that never existed. Adding yet another difficulty to a process that far too few participate in already does not make sense.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve never been intimidated by anyone at a polling location in Maine. This comment seems to border on racist.

  • Anonymous

    I have moved a lot in recent years so I’ve had to re-register multiple times on top of everything else that goes with moving. I’ll bet a lot of folks are moving around these days with jobs harder to come by.

  • Anonymous

    Thank you.  Well said.  We hear all kinds of comments stereotyping people who do not register beforehand as lazy and uninformed.  They are judging people based on the circumstances of their own lives — forgetting that other people may have family, work, or transportation situations quite different from their own.  Some of these people may actally be uniformed — but last time I checked no one has been granted the authority to screen out “uninformed voters.”

    Hundreds of Mainer people move to a new town in the 1 – 2 weeks preceding the election.  To register in a new town, they need to provide one of various types of proof or residence.  This all takes time.  Under the new law, if that proof or residence isn’t available until the Friday before the election, that person is denied their right to vote. 

    Life is complicated.  Getting to a polling place during a work day can be complicated enough.  Keep the act of voting as simple as possible. 

  • Anonymous

    Love to hear from racists.  And you’re so easy to peg.  Usually they’re hiding under something like requiring a photo ID or other subtle ways to disinfranchise citizens from exercising their civil rights.

  • Anonymous

    You are so persecuted.  Not.

  • AionNV

    Yeah, that’s the problem with leftists, they want to encourage people to participate in the democratic process…

  • AionNV

    Or one can reject the fake options you present, and do both.

    Case closed !

  • listenuppeople

    So you think it’s OK to vote in a town you don’t live in??? I am guessing you do, because you don’t want people to have to provide proof of residence… I can guess what political party you belong to, They’re are some people who don’t care how results are gotten, cheating, lying, deceiving as long as they win the game in the end… Thats not what this country was founded on… I myself wouldn’t cheat at any game just to say I won. Some groups bus cheaters in to vote, We as people are the ones who can make this a better country and not by cheating /stealing or buying votes…. What is wrong with this country is the media is complicit with the courption and nobody knows the truth about anything without researching all sides of the issue twice… Most people always vote how they are told too.. Stupid of the facts/truths.. I belong to neither gang of hoodlums… The truth is some people shouldn’t be allowed to vote.. Just to numb to anything except themselves…  

  • listenuppeople

    So you think it’s OK to vote in a town you don’t live in??? I am guessing you do, because you don’t want people to have to provide proof of residence… I can guess what political party you belong to, They’re are some people who don’t care how results are gotten, cheating, lying, deceiving as long as they win the game in the end… Thats not what this country was founded on… I myself wouldn’t cheat at any game just to say I won. Some groups bus cheaters in to vote, We as people are the ones who can make this a better country and not by cheating /stealing or buying votes…. What is wrong with this country is the media is complicit with the courption and nobody knows the truth about anything without researching all sides of the issue twice… Most people always vote how they are told too.. Stupid of the facts/truths.. I belong to neither gang of hoodlums… The truth is some people shouldn’t be allowed to vote.. Just to numb to anything except themselves…  

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=565982401 Rocky Marshall

    need to work “where ever they want” in there some where.

  • Anonymous

    Of course, dirigodad, anyone who wants to help to make it easier for Americans to vote can always volunteer to help Marines carry back packs in 100 degree plus desert heat. 

    Lick that stamp! 

  • Anonymous

    I will not sign this petition.

  • Anonymous

    It crossed the border.

  • Anonymous

    “Mistah Speakah, beggin’ your pardon sir, but where’s our money?”

  • Anonymous

    mind closed.

  • Anonymous

    Adolescent minds influenced by liberal professors is just what we need signing up to vote.
     

  • Anonymous

     If they are so responsible why were they not ready days before ?

  • Anonymous

     If they are so responsible why were they not ready days before ?

  • Anonymous

    Here is a contradiction for you…reconcile how these lefties want to keep same day registration and voting but keep the ban on early voting. Sounds a bit hypocritical to me, but then again it’s probably lost on you folks as power trumps everything for your ilk.

  • Anonymous

    Whats the big deal?????     Want to vote take the time to fill the card out…..why jam the Town Clerk up on vote day….some people dont like anything I guess…  Should go to the purple finger way…..

  • Anonymous

    “revenue”..ahhum….you mean “taxes” right?
    Obviously you must have been checking with the message of the day from the left to get your talking points.

  • Anonymous

    Nothing but liberal fear of an even playing field

  • Anonymous

    Wow, what a racist comment. How typical.

  • Anonymous

    I never said that, but I do want the voting process to be free of fraud and a bit more serious than getting a burger at McDonalds.  If a person takes voting seriously they can take the time to register a couple of weeks in advance if need be. Too bad you don’t seem to take the sanctity of the process as seriously.

  • Anonymous

    You can always count on the rightwing to do whatever they can to subvert our democratic process. It’s no surprise they’re trying suppress votes what better way to foster an unpopular extreme national agenda.

  • Anonymous

    What are you talking about?

  • Anonymous

    What are you talking about?

  • Anonymous

    What are you talking about?

  • Anonymous

    Are you suggesting a “litmus test” before a person is allowed to register and/or vote? Because it you are, you need to understand that it would akin to a “poll tax” which is unconstitutional.

  • Anonymous

    Are you suggesting a “litmus test” before a person is allowed to register and/or vote? Because it you are, you need to understand that it would akin to a “poll tax” which is unconstitutional.

  • Anonymous

    Are you suggesting a “litmus test” before a person is allowed to register and/or vote? Because it you are, you need to understand that it would akin to a “poll tax” which is unconstitutional.

  • Anonymous

    Yes, I have a problem with same day voter registration. The whole rest of the darned year is available in which to register. People who care about our government, who take the time to look at the issues and candidates running for office – people who are responsible voters – will take the time to go down and register. Those who leave it until the last minute, those who are so scatterbrained they can’t make time to register in a whole year, those who allow themselves to be rounded up and delivered to a polling station programmed – or paid – to vote for a given candidate… are not concerned, involved, informed voters. Yes, you have a RIGHT to vote. You also have a RESPONSIBILITY to do so in a conscientious manner, having studied the issues and agonized over the consequences of getting it wrong. We get the government we vote for. If we do not pay attention, bad things are going to happen; I mean, look at the last presidential election!

  • Anonymous

    Yes, I have a problem with same day voter registration. The whole rest of the darned year is available in which to register. People who care about our government, who take the time to look at the issues and candidates running for office – people who are responsible voters – will take the time to go down and register. Those who leave it until the last minute, those who are so scatterbrained they can’t make time to register in a whole year, those who allow themselves to be rounded up and delivered to a polling station programmed – or paid – to vote for a given candidate… are not concerned, involved, informed voters. Yes, you have a RIGHT to vote. You also have a RESPONSIBILITY to do so in a conscientious manner, having studied the issues and agonized over the consequences of getting it wrong. We get the government we vote for. If we do not pay attention, bad things are going to happen; I mean, look at the last presidential election!

  • Anonymous

    “In fact, it looks like they are more citizens of Maine than the LePage’s
    are.  How many months out of the year are they in Maine.”

    If you are interested, why don’t you call the Governor’s office and ask?

  • Anonymous

    Funny how this breaks down by political party.  One party wants fewer people voting, one party wants more people voting.

    Except for the League of Women Voters, which is generally considered bi-partisan , , ,

  • Anonymous

    Funny how this breaks down by political party.  One party wants fewer people voting, one party wants more people voting.

    Except for the League of Women Voters, which is generally considered bi-partisan , , ,

  • Anonymous

    Funny how this breaks down by political party.  One party wants fewer people voting, one party wants more people voting.

    Except for the League of Women Voters, which is generally considered bi-partisan , , ,

  • Anonymous

    Funny how this breaks down by political party.  One party wants fewer people voting, one party wants more people voting.

    Except for the League of Women Voters, which is generally considered bi-partisan , , ,

  • Anonymous

    Funny how this breaks down by political party.  One party wants fewer people voting, one party wants more people voting.

    Except for the League of Women Voters, which is generally considered bi-partisan , , ,

  • Anonymous

    Funny how this breaks down by political party.  One party wants fewer people voting, one party wants more people voting.

    Except for the League of Women Voters, which is generally considered bi-partisan , , ,

  • Anonymous

    From the BDN, June 22, 2011:

    “In the 2008 and 2010 general elections, tens of thousands of Mainers registered on Election Day and then immediately cast ballots. Many of those same-day registrants propelled LePage to a victory last fall.”

    Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

  • Anonymous

    From the BDN, June 22, 2011:

    “In the 2008 and 2010 general elections, tens of thousands of Mainers registered on Election Day and then immediately cast ballots. Many of those same-day registrants propelled LePage to a victory last fall.”

    Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

  • Anonymous

    From the BDN, June 22, 2011:

    “In the 2008 and 2010 general elections, tens of thousands of Mainers registered on Election Day and then immediately cast ballots. Many of those same-day registrants propelled LePage to a victory last fall.”

    Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

  • Anonymous

    Absolutely people registering to vote should have to provide proof or residence.  Read my post again, please. 

    As for the idea that “some groups bus cheaters in to vote,”  please provide evidence of this EVER happening in Maine.  Seems to me you are perpetuating a clever little talk radio myth.

    As for your statement, “The truth is some people shouldn’t be allowed to vote.. Just to numb to anything except themselves…” I agree that it is frustrating that not all voters are as  informed as we would like them to be.  But what do you propose we do about that?

  • Anonymous

    You make some valid points.  But what do you say to the hundreds of Maine people who move to a new town and establish a new residence in the few weeks preceding the election?  Yes, they must provide proof of this new residence — but what if they cannot do this until the Friday before the election.  Do you turn this person away from the polling booth?

    Voter turnout is already sadly low in this country.  So let’s come out with some ways to make it even lower.  Prohibit same-day registration — that’s a start.  Next require a photo ID.  Then maybe a citizenship test.  See which direction we are headed? 

    One party wants more eligible people to vote.   One party wants fewer eligible people to vote because they are afraid that otherwise they will be voted out of office.  It’s that simple.

  • Anonymous

    I am suggesting responsibility and accountability… two words not in the liberal dream

  • Anonymous

    they will vote for the party that gives them a coffee and a ride to the polls

  • Anonymous

    I think your idea of requiring a photo ID for voters is quite excellent! After all, we don’t want people who are NOT qualified to vote to slip into the polls and try to influence elections, do we? It has been well documented that non-citizens, convicts, dead people, and multiple voters have all done so in past elections. If we allow fraud, we beg to give away our government to those who would stoop so low as to cheat us. Citizenship test? Why on earth not? The law says our elections are for CITIZENS of THIS country.

  • http://www.facebook.com/susan.b.clark Sue

    So? What’s your point? It’s a free country (barely) and you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/susan.b.clark Sue

    So? What’s your point? It’s a free country (barely) and you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/susan.b.clark Sue

    So? What’s your point? It’s a free country (barely) and you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/susan.b.clark Sue

    So? What’s your point? It’s a free country (barely) and you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

  • http://www.facebook.com/susan.b.clark Sue

    I don’t want to hijack this discussion, but I have a message to pass on to you. Olde Hippie was banned from BDN (wrongly IMHO) and he’d like to get in touch with you. old.hippie@mylink.net 

    Please let me know if you see this so I can delete it when you have it. Thanks.

  • Anonymous

    The sad part about this bill passing is it has nothing to do with Maine, only national politics. As the rightwing continues to hemorrhage, this will prove to be one more extreme bill that will be tossed in the dump of un-American ideas.

    Remember, until the rightwing has dismantled our country in the name of freedom we will be continually bombarded by bills that restrict more and more of our rights. Don’t be fooled, the rightwing has no interest in anything democratic.

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    What is the actual percentage of people that register each year that happen to move directly preceding an election? Come on, it’s a cop-out and you know it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    Hundreds of Mainer people move to a new town in the 1 – 2 weeks preceding the election.”

    Where are you people getting these numbers?  these so-called, pre-election movers? What is the actual percentage of people that register each year that
    happen to move “directly” preceding an election, that 3 week period out of 52? Come on, it’s a cop-out
    and you know it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    “1 out of every 6 Mainers move every 18-24 months, mostly those who rent or who are young. ”

    I asked it befroe, I’ll ask it again, Where are you people getting these numbers?  these so-called, pre-election movers?

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    “1 out of every 6 Mainers move every 18-24 months, mostly those who rent or who are young. ”

    I asked it befroe, I’ll ask it again, Where are you people getting these numbers?  these so-called, pre-election movers?

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    1. Did you move during the 21 day pre-election period and go on election day every one of those times?
    2. If so, why?
    3.If not, why?

    I have read many people use their own experiences and magic statistics that no-one can find anywhere to base their arguments against this law. Yet, no one has actually given a REAL, tangible reason that would require someone to have to wait and register to vote on election day. There are 365 days in a year, 52 weeks and your telling me that every person that moves, moves in the 3 week period preceding election day?

  • Anonymous

    Duh must be a word your familiar with, when I move, I usually register when I do things like change my address and drivers license… Duh

  • Anonymous

    1,328,361 = population of Maine.  If just 1% of Maine people moved each year, that would amount to 13,283 people.  (Real numbers would be higher, but let’s go with that).  3 weeks preceding the election is  1/17th of the year, so divide by 17 =  781 people.  Lets assume 80% of those people are of voting age, that amounts to 624 people.

    If I show up a to a polling place in a town in which I am eligible to vote, and I have proof of residency, and the town clerk has time to register me, why is it exactly that you wish to deny me the right to vote?

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    Great math. But, same issue. This is all hypothetical math based on a constant and a non-realistic basis.

    And it is not denying you anything. If you want to be literal, then Registration itself isn’t in the constitution. It was created after the party system and when demographics became a hot topic. How many whites? How many Democrats? If strengthening the registration system is undemocratic and against the constitution, then so is the registration system in general.

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    Great math. But, same issue. This is all hypothetical math based on a constant and a non-realistic basis.

    And it is not denying you anything. If you want to be literal, then Registration itself isn’t in the constitution. It was created after the party system and when demographics became a hot topic. How many whites? How many Democrats? If strengthening the registration system is undemocratic and against the constitution, then so is the registration system in general.

  • Anonymous

    These numbers come from the debate on the state senate floor, specifically Sen. John Patrick of Rumford. I did not pull the numbers out of a hat.

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    I think another issue that amazingly hasn’t been brought up is this…
    We’ve heard both sides, the Clerks, the Democrats, the Republicans, whatever…
    Has anyone ever that of this hypothetical scenario.
    A person lives in Ellsworth then goes to college in Orono and sends in absentee ballots from Orono back to E-town every election, because even though he lives off campus, by law he is still considered a “transient” resident. Now, he gets an idea. I can send in an absentee ballot since I am still registered in E-Town, then a few days later, hop down to the town office and register to vote in Orono since I live there, and then can vote there.

    And don’t say it wouldn’t happen, for one that is as impossible to know as how many people move in the 3 weeks preceding every election, and two, I saw many people from my college town do it last election.
    How badly can this mess up an election.
    How is the town clerk in Orono supposed to know he already voted vie absentee ballot in Ellsworth? He has a valid off campus address in Orono, and has live there for three years so he does have a valid Orono residency.
    Just because something has worked in the past doesn’t mean that people will not find a way to abuse it eventually.

    That’s what I love about Maine. You don’t like Change, even if MAY be good for you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    I think another issue that amazingly hasn’t been brought up is this…
    We’ve heard both sides, the Clerks, the Democrats, the Republicans, whatever…
    Has anyone ever that of this hypothetical scenario.
    A person lives in Ellsworth then goes to college in Orono and sends in absentee ballots from Orono back to E-town every election, because even though he lives off campus, by law he is still considered a “transient” resident. Now, he gets an idea. I can send in an absentee ballot since I am still registered in E-Town, then a few days later, hop down to the town office and register to vote in Orono since I live there, and then can vote there.

    And don’t say it wouldn’t happen, for one that is as impossible to know as how many people move in the 3 weeks preceding every election, and two, I saw many people from my college town do it last election.
    How badly can this mess up an election.
    How is the town clerk in Orono supposed to know he already voted vie absentee ballot in Ellsworth? He has a valid off campus address in Orono, and has live there for three years so he does have a valid Orono residency.
    Just because something has worked in the past doesn’t mean that people will not find a way to abuse it eventually.

    That’s what I love about Maine. You don’t like Change, even if MAY be good for you.

  • Anonymous

    Jimmie, your argument is boring.  Why ?  Because we already went through all of this over 30 years ago, including your breast beating reasoning.  Hate to tell you this, but while you are trying to squash that black fly that’s bothering you, your house is burning down.  We all know why this is an issue again – it is another super-conservative attempt developed by the right wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to reduce the number of progressive voters in the 2012 elections.  The very same (almost word-for-word) legislation has been introduced in Wisconsin and Minnesota.  About all that was changed was the name of the state.  Couldn’t we at least expect some originality from our House Speaker ?  Check with Senator Rosen, who is the political arm of the ALEC in Maine, for more details.  He’s been around for awhile and, while not in Bangor,is nearby. 

  • Anonymous

    Jimmie, your argument is boring.  Why ?  Because we already went through all of this over 30 years ago, including your breast beating reasoning.  Hate to tell you this, but while you are trying to squash that black fly that’s bothering you, your house is burning down.  We all know why this is an issue again – it is another super-conservative attempt developed by the right wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to reduce the number of progressive voters in the 2012 elections.  The very same (almost word-for-word) legislation has been introduced in Wisconsin and Minnesota.  About all that was changed was the name of the state.  Couldn’t we at least expect some originality from our House Speaker ?  Check with Senator Rosen, who is the political arm of the ALEC in Maine, for more details.  He’s been around for awhile and, while not in Bangor,is nearby. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    But you did relay numbers to base an argument not knowing the truth and validity of the source you got them from. He could have embellished them or “pulled them out of a hat” as you say. I do not use statistics and numbers as a basis for an argument unless I know exactly where they came from and could see the numbers myself.

  • Anonymous

    “Deputize” my 17-year-old granddaughter who works at the polls for a little gas money ?  I know that she probably has a few parking tickets that she’d like fixed so she likes the idea all ready !

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    Thank You…

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    Thank You…

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    Thank You…

  • http://www.facebook.com/antonio.giarratano Antonio Giarratano

    Thank You…

  • SwiftyMorgain

    The Republicans are bringing back a new version of the old Jim Crow laws that suppressed the African American vote after the Civil War. However, they have expanded the mission. It continues to be the African American vote they are trying to nullify, but over time they have added the poor and young Americans as well.

  • Anonymous

    I have registered the same-day on two occasions and pre-registered several other times. Once I  went to register ahead of time and the town clerk gave me the paperwork to register and told me to fill it out at home and return it when I came to vote because it would be easier for her to register everyone on the voting day than do them one at a time over the preceding couple months.

    I would like to find some “real, tangible” evidence not based on “magic statistics” that there has been any actual problem related to same day voter registration.

    More voters = better representation of the public opinion = healthier democracy. End of story.

  • Anonymous

    The state has a voter registration database that is used to prevent fraud like that. When I have changed the city I am registered in the state automatically notified the previous town I was registered in with a notice to remove my previous registration.

  • Anonymous

    The state has a voter registration database that is used to prevent fraud like that. When I have changed the city I am registered in the state automatically notified the previous town I was registered in with a notice to remove my previous registration.

  • Anonymous

    The new law bars no one from voting.  It requires you to conduct your business in a timely manner.  In this case your business is registering to vote.  If you do not conduct your “business” in a timely manner there are all kinds of penalties, late fees for over due books, fines etc for failing to file taxes in a timely manner. The list goes on.  Just another attempt by the liberals to scare monger this issue.  Actually not issue at all if you conduct your “business” in a timely manner.

  • Anonymous

    The new law bars no one from voting.  It requires you to conduct your business in a timely manner.  In this case your business is registering to vote.  If you do not conduct your “business” in a timely manner there are all kinds of penalties, late fees for over due books, fines etc for failing to file taxes in a timely manner. The list goes on.  Just another attempt by the liberals to scare monger this issue.  Actually not issue at all if you conduct your “business” in a timely manner.

  • Anonymous

    How do you make the leap to “I am suggesting responsibility and accountability” from your previous post “Adolescent minds influenced by liberal professors is just what we need signing up to vote.”

    I just don’t see that as a logical leap.

  • Anonymous

    How do you make the leap to “I am suggesting responsibility and accountability” from your previous post “Adolescent minds influenced by liberal professors is just what we need signing up to vote.”

    I just don’t see that as a logical leap.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Sue….I need to think on this request.

  • Anonymous

    While I normally don’t reply to those who feel name calling is necessary to make their point I will make an exception in your case. If it has anything, as you say about power trumping anything then the only power that was shown in this case was the republicans changing a long standing law primarily for no other reason then they could. Is that the power you are talking about? As far as the referendum is concerned I would have preferred that it just returned the law to what it was prior to what appears to be the temporary take over of Augusta by those who are presently in control.

  • Anonymous

    This is what happens when you vote twice in Maine – Portland Press Herald

    Maine man charged with voter fraud

    http://www.pressherald.com/news/Maine-man-charged-with-Election-Day-voter-fraud.html

    And for full disclosure – Bangor Daily News

    Man changes plea in voter fraud case

    http://bangordailynews.com/2010/06/11/news/man-changes-plea-in-voter-fraud-case/

  • Anonymous

    And what difference does it make “what percent of the votes cast” LePage received? He received approximately the same percent of votes Governor Baldacci received in his reelection in 2006.

    Of the candidates running Governor LePage and Baldacci received the greatest number of votes cast and were elected.

  • Anonymous

    And what difference does it make “what percent of the votes cast” LePage received? He received approximately the same percent of votes Governor Baldacci received in his reelection in 2006.

    Of the candidates running Governor LePage and Baldacci received the greatest number of votes cast and were elected.

  • Anonymous

    I am not saying it happens here in Maine, but there has been a lot of voter fraud in recent years— that’s a fact…!

    The majority of voters do not move around enough to miss an election cycle registration. The real problem is that “even with” same day registration, voter turnout in Maine is pathetic..!

  • SwiftyMorgain

       In No uncertain terms the new law bars an individual from voting who is registered and a situation arises the day “before” the election that he cannot be in the municipality the day of an election.
      In No uncertain terms their is a three  day window of un availability to vote for these abscentee voters who had every intention to vote the day of the election and are given unforseen circumstances.

  • SwiftyMorgain

       In No uncertain terms the new law bars an individual from voting who is registered and a situation arises the day “before” the election that he cannot be in the municipality the day of an election.
      In No uncertain terms their is a three  day window of un availability to vote for these abscentee voters who had every intention to vote the day of the election and are given unforseen circumstances.

  • SwiftyMorgain

    Its interesting that you brought that up!

      Quite often the party that is handicapped economically, runs full blitz campaign adds the day before and the day of an election so as to get thier message heard and remembered at the time of election. It gives them more bang for the buck and also inspires independant voters to get thier arse up out of the chair to vote. Sometimes otherwise apathetic people become inspired when they would not otherwise and the call to vote becomes a mute cry when these people try to excercise thier right at the last minute.

      I fail to see the need to register in this day and age with computerised records. If I am able to walk into Cabelas or LL Bean and walk out in 15 minutes with a line of credit and merchadise on that line of credit I should be able to register and vote on the day of the election!

  • Anonymous

    The wording of the “citizen veto” effort does not deal with that issue at all.  The wording is– “Do you want to reject the section of Chapter 399 of the Public Laws of
    2011 that requires new voters to register to vote at least two business
    days prior to an election?”

  • SwiftyMorgain

      That is probably the best evidence avialable that this law is in fact an unnessecesary intrusive law. The fact that the fraud was uncovered by a computerised system after the fact is proof that a before the fraud system of checks and balances can be replaced with an after the election verification.

    So the election results come in later, why shut people out just to get a sooner tally?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1643335372 Bethany Reynolds

    Maine has been among the highest turnout states in the country for years. We could always do better (personally, I think the Australian system of mandatory voting has some appeal, but only if voters were also required to educate themselves before they vote, and I know that’s a non-starter). But all of the states with the highest participation have had same-day registration. It’s clearly made a difference here in Maine. If we really want civic engagement, why take a step backwards by making it that much harder to vote?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1643335372 Bethany Reynolds

    Interesting that the only case of voter fraud in recent memory was a 65-year-old, apparently a long-time resident of Maine, and as far as we can tell from the story, not a college student.

  • Anonymous

    But I go back to my original question which is why is the petition only addressing same day registration and not the ban on absentee voting two days before election day. 

    I am very curious why one seems to be less important then the other.

  • Anonymous

    I agree it is interesting. I think it is safe to assume that anyone that votes in Maine more than once under the same name will likely be caught under the existing laws.

  • SwiftyMorgain

        I fully understand that. I wasn’t refering to the “citizens veto” my reply was to your comment –( The new law bars no one from voting)

        I believe in thier rush to judgement and veto wording ,that they overlooked the more restictive aspect of the law the 2 day Abscente Ballot Window.

      I was going to reply to you that there  was no reason that some one who hadn’t registered prior to voting could always be given a provsional ballot and be verified after the fact.

    However!
        In looking  up the history of provisional ballots I found that in 2004 20 % of these where Cart Blanc disqualified for nit picky reasons and subject to fraud in itself by ballot counters! 
      Also republicans had disqualified voters in the past by mailing letters to the addresses listed and disqualifying them for no answer. This forced a law against (Cageing Voters) in some states!
       In any event it is a shame that “grandma” who has lived in the Town for 40 years and known by everyone at the election should not be allowed to register the same day!

     

  • SwiftyMorgain

       I think it because they rushed to judgement and overlooked the ramifications of the 2 day window of inability to vote abscentee.

        To me that is by far the more important issue as it bars outright someone caught in the situation of intending to vote on election day and a sudden out of state funeral comes up or your boss tells you to be in Memphis tommorrow or you are fired! 

  • SwiftyMorgain

       I think it because they rushed to judgement and overlooked the ramifications of the 2 day window of inability to vote abscentee.

        To me that is by far the more important issue as it bars outright someone caught in the situation of intending to vote on election day and a sudden out of state funeral comes up or your boss tells you to be in Memphis tommorrow or you are fired! 

  • SwiftyMorgain

    I have a simple answer to this! If everybody votes Democrat it wont matter if there was fraud!

  • SwiftyMorgain

    I have a simple answer to this! If everybody votes Democrat it wont matter if there was fraud!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1643335372 Bethany Reynolds

    Why don’t we just have elections during regular town office hours? In my town that would be 7 to 4; in some others it might be 9 or 10 to 4. Or maybe 10 to 2…. That would save money and be much easier on the clerks, wouldn’t it? 

    Of course that would be silly. We have extended hours at the polls on election day to make it more convenient for people to vote, so that as many citizens as possible will take part in the democratic process. And for 38 years, we’ve had same-day voter registration for the same reason.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1643335372 Bethany Reynolds

    Everyone I know on the pro-same day registration side of the issue is also concerned with the absentee ballot changes. However, the clerks *did* support those changes, because unlike same-day registration, absentee ballots put a lot of extra work on the clerks’ plates. My guess is that the coalition working on the People’s Veto felt it would weaken the chance of success to complicate the referendum question with more than one issue. But I think you will find a legislative push to restore the late absentee balloting, if/when the balance of power shifts again in Augusta.

  • Anonymous

    Here is an interesting little fact when my daughter went away to college. We notified the insurance company that one of our vehicles was going to be “out of state” while she was at college. The insurance company told us, that she was no longer a resident of the state of Maine and she would have to insure locally in New York.
    **********************************************************
    …..and did she obtain a New York driver’s license and file a New York State income tax return?

  • Anonymous

    Here is an interesting little fact when my daughter went away to college. We notified the insurance company that one of our vehicles was going to be “out of state” while she was at college. The insurance company told us, that she was no longer a resident of the state of Maine and she would have to insure locally in New York.
    **********************************************************
    …..and did she obtain a New York driver’s license and file a New York State income tax return?

  • Anonymous

    Here is an interesting little fact when my daughter went away to college. We notified the insurance company that one of our vehicles was going to be “out of state” while she was at college. The insurance company told us, that she was no longer a resident of the state of Maine and she would have to insure locally in New York.
    **********************************************************
    …..and did she obtain a New York driver’s license and file a New York State income tax return?

  • Anonymous

    Here is an interesting little fact when my daughter went away to college. We notified the insurance company that one of our vehicles was going to be “out of state” while she was at college. The insurance company told us, that she was no longer a resident of the state of Maine and she would have to insure locally in New York.
    **********************************************************
    …..and did she obtain a New York driver’s license and file a New York State income tax return?

  • Anonymous

    Here is an interesting little fact when my daughter went away to college. We notified the insurance company that one of our vehicles was going to be “out of state” while she was at college. The insurance company told us, that she was no longer a resident of the state of Maine and she would have to insure locally in New York.
    **********************************************************
    …..and did she obtain a New York driver’s license and file a New York State income tax return?

  • Anonymous

    Dorm rooms are also considered residence for the purpose of the Census.
    *****************************************************
    that’s funny, when I did work for the U.S. Census Bureau in the dicennial census, I was told the OPPOSITE.  We were instructed to determine their home state and address.  When interviwing Maine households, we were instructed to ask if any minors or adults of the household were living away from home for more than 6 months at college or in the military.

  • Anonymous

    Dorm rooms are also considered residence for the purpose of the Census.
    *****************************************************
    that’s funny, when I did work for the U.S. Census Bureau in the dicennial census, I was told the OPPOSITE.  We were instructed to determine their home state and address.  When interviwing Maine households, we were instructed to ask if any minors or adults of the household were living away from home for more than 6 months at college or in the military.

  • Anonymous

    Well isn’t that strange because students at Umaine were told that their college residence is their residence by the census last year and they even instructed school staff how to take the census for the on campus students.

    http://2010.census.gov/campus/pdf/GroupQuarters_CensusOnCampus.pdf

  • Anonymous

    Well isn’t that strange because students at Umaine were told that their college residence is their residence by the census last year and they even instructed school staff how to take the census for the on campus students.

    http://2010.census.gov/campus/pdf/GroupQuarters_CensusOnCampus.pdf

  • Anonymous

    Well isn’t that strange because students at Umaine were told that their college residence is their residence by the census last year and they even instructed school staff how to take the census for the on campus students.

    http://2010.census.gov/campus/pdf/GroupQuarters_CensusOnCampus.pdf

  • Anonymous

    Well isn’t that strange because students at Umaine were told that their college residence is their residence by the census last year and they even instructed school staff how to take the census for the on campus students.

    http://2010.census.gov/campus/pdf/GroupQuarters_CensusOnCampus.pdf

  • Anonymous

     Once I went to register ahead of time and the town clerk gave me the paperwork to register and told me to fill it out at home and return it when I came to vote because it would be easier for her to register everyone on the voting day than do them one at a time over the preceding couple months.
    *************************************************
    Would you care to name the town this happened in?  I would like to lodge a formal complaint against the town clerk for dereliction of duty.  A voter registration card is about the size of a post card or a 4×6 photograph.  There are at most 6 spaces to fill out—name, address, date of birth, phone number and political party affiliation (or unenrolled).  Takes about 30 SECONDS to fill out and about 15 SECONDS for the clerk to fill out their portion and file it in the appropriate area.  They are required to do their portion/duties on the day the voter comes in to register.  What happens if she waits until Election Day to file your registration card and you decide to take advantage of Early Voting?  You go to the polls and they tell you—sorry, you’re not registered.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t think what happened in Florida would be considered Fraud (you know, when they kicked the “felons” off the list who weren’t actually felons).  I would say it was a dirty trick but not fraud.  Now what the Republicans did in Wisconsin recently, that looks like that may be fraud (oops, I forgot to count these 7500 votes, and wow look 98% voter turnout in my district, I’m Awesome!).  Time will tell.  However notice the party perpetuating the fraud seems to be the party passing this law, looks like the Republicans are just trying to keep law abiding citizens from voting, makes it easier to cook the books when you know how many are coming in to vote on a given day.

  • Anonymous

    Actually, it is a way to make sure fewer poor people (who are more prone to moving frequently) have the right to vote.

  • Anonymous

    And so did the National Debt, it doubled under both of those morons.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SHNOU64ZBOBIKWUF5IM6WSH7WA entitled4life

    The democrats have made this a right to vote fight which is ridiculous.  Who will not have the right to vote?  Is there any democrat out there capable of telling the truth about any issue or is it all spin for you?

  • Anonymous

    Actually voter fraud is just a
    “bit” more widespread than that.

    ACORN alone has been proven to
    have influenced, or “doctored” thousands of votes in many states. Much like
    corruption and sex scandals in Washington, there have been voter fraud in the
    US for decades, and just because it hasn’t been caught here in Maine doesn’t mean
    it isn’t been happening….

     

    Since the ACORN story broke, I
    don’t trust the current administration, as well as a number of acts on both
    sides. There is a rising number of people that don’t trust our government, and
    for good reason… While the added “inconvenience” of a “few days” may upset a
    few, very few, the added protection from voter fraud is comforting.

     

     

  • Anonymous

    Actually voter fraud is just a
    “bit” more widespread than that.

    ACORN alone has been proven to
    have influenced, or “doctored” thousands of votes in many states. Much like
    corruption and sex scandals in Washington, there have been voter fraud in the
    US for decades, and just because it hasn’t been caught here in Maine doesn’t mean
    it isn’t been happening….

     

    Since the ACORN story broke, I
    don’t trust the current administration, as well as a number of acts on both
    sides. There is a rising number of people that don’t trust our government, and
    for good reason… While the added “inconvenience” of a “few days” may upset a
    few, very few, the added protection from voter fraud is comforting.

     

     

  • Anonymous

    Actually there is no proof that ACORN doctored any votes.  There were some employees of ACORN that submitted bogus registrations, they were fired and dealt with in the court systems, but there is no proof that any of these bogus registrations ever voted.  Of course, if I were you, I wouldn’t let a little thing like the truth get in the way of my ACORN hate.

  • Anonymous

    As someone whose brother is serving his second tour in Afghanistan and am very sympathetic to our military forces deployed to the middle east, I am tired of this “defending our freedoms” canard.  My little brother who I helped raise like a son (my father skipped out early) is not defending our freedom in the middle east.  He is involved in defending others potentially, but he is not doing anything to defend ours.  The last war that had anything remotely to do with defending our freedom was WWII, the one prior to that was the Civil War, and the one prior to that was the war of 1812.  In our entire history, the troops have defended our freedom THREE times.

  • Anonymous

    No canards on my flag, sir.

  • Anonymous

    The fact that the numbers were not refuted by those in favor of the bill is enough evidence for me to feel confident in using them in my post.

  • Anonymous

    The fact that the numbers were not refuted by those in favor of the bill is enough evidence for me to feel confident in using them in my post.

  • Anonymous

    The fact that the numbers were not refuted by those in favor of the bill is enough evidence for me to feel confident in using them in my post.

  • Anonymous

    Really…?
    Wow, I’ll tell congress that “you” have cleared ACORN of any wrong doing and that it was only a handful of bad apples….

    .

  • Anonymous

    Actually congress defunding ACORN had nothing to do with the voter registrations (which may I mention were originally detected and reported to authorities by ACORN) but a selectively edited video by a convicted felon.  Congresses reaction would be equivalent to accepting Farenheit 9/11 as proof that the Bush administration was behind september 11th.

  • Rebecca Bunker

    I take offense to the negative college student comments here.  I am a college students who becomes educated on the voting process and questions at hand when I go to vote.  Yet I still did not register until the day of voting because guess what? College is not about kegs, bongs and MTV and you sound very silly to say so. I was busy, you know with classes, homework and working, and in a new town and did not need to register for any other reason then to vote.  Why wouldn’t you want college students to vote? These are people who are trying to educate themselves and better their futures.  If they have this initiative, then you would think these are the people you would want making votes on the future of your state. They are your children, the people who will most likely be running this state when your are coming into retirement so you should probably put a little more trust in them then that.
     This should not be a discussion about what the people who need this same day voting is doing before, it should be about protecting Maine voters, Maine, who is full of hard working people who do not always have time to register while working full time and taking care of their families, but still want to participate in their state rulings, which they have every right to do as citizens.  Why try to make it harder for your citizens to be heard? We should be trying to promote people to vote so they can be active in the government that play a large roll in their lives. Everyone should have a right to do this and the government should not be making it harder for people to vote and play a roll in our Democracy! Hello, it is a Democracy, right? Isn’t that supposed to be all about the citizens vote? Our Democratic system is already a tangled place where it can be a daunting task to feel like your voice is being heard, why make it any harder for the people who really make this state run smoothly to go out and vote and have that little chance where they feel like they are doing something good for the state they live in.

  • Anonymous

    It seems strange that
    Democrats such as Baldacci, Richardson and more have commented that we need to
    focus on increasing the lagging voter turnout numbers.

     

    Requiring someone to be
    registered a couple of days prior is like asking a student to come to school
    with a pencil. Other than handicapped access, I really won’t really lose any
    sleep over those idiots that forgot to register.

     

    This is not asking the elderly
    or infirmed to jump through hoops, but rather the terminally lazy liberals that
    see this as too much effort…!

     

     

  • Anonymous

    It seems strange that
    Democrats such as Baldacci, Richardson and more have commented that we need to
    focus on increasing the lagging voter turnout numbers.

     

    Requiring someone to be
    registered a couple of days prior is like asking a student to come to school
    with a pencil. Other than handicapped access, I really won’t really lose any
    sleep over those idiots that forgot to register.

     

    This is not asking the elderly
    or infirmed to jump through hoops, but rather the terminally lazy liberals that
    see this as too much effort…!

     

     

  • Anonymous

    It seems strange that
    Democrats such as Baldacci, Richardson and more have commented that we need to
    focus on increasing the lagging voter turnout numbers.

     

    Requiring someone to be
    registered a couple of days prior is like asking a student to come to school
    with a pencil. Other than handicapped access, I really won’t really lose any
    sleep over those idiots that forgot to register.

     

    This is not asking the elderly
    or infirmed to jump through hoops, but rather the terminally lazy liberals that
    see this as too much effort…!

     

     

  • Anonymous

    It seems strange that
    Democrats such as Baldacci, Richardson and more have commented that we need to
    focus on increasing the lagging voter turnout numbers.

     

    Requiring someone to be
    registered a couple of days prior is like asking a student to come to school
    with a pencil. Other than handicapped access, I really won’t really lose any
    sleep over those idiots that forgot to register.

     

    This is not asking the elderly
    or infirmed to jump through hoops, but rather the terminally lazy liberals that
    see this as too much effort…!

     

     

  • Anonymous

    Congress not only voted to defund them, but additionally bar them from future funding because of voter fraud…

  • Anonymous

    No Congress voted to defund them because the Republicans insisted that it should be included in a bill that increases student aid to college students.  The Democrats voted for it because they felt that helping students was more important than funding ACORN.  Now if you could point me to legislation that states that ACORN committed voter fraud I would love to see it.

  • Anonymous

    You point to yours..

  • Anonymous

    You point to yours..

  • Anonymous

    Sure thing, here’s the bill.  http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3221/show  Notice the title, Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009.  They snuck it in in section 602.  Basically it defunds ACORN because some workers who were fired by ACORN submitted false voter registration, there was no Vote fraud, if anything there was registration fraud, and ACORN reported it.

  • Anonymous

    I have a few too, but what it
    all boils down to is that fraud does exist, our government is infested with
    corruption, and we need every safeguard we can get…

    http://rottenacorn.com/activityMap.html

     

    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124182750646102435.html

     

    http://www.kmbc.com/r/10214492/detail.html

     

    http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2010/01/inside-acorn-vote-fraud-scam.html

     

    Voter Fraud

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_fraud

  • Anonymous

    Notice that your wiki one doesn’t mention ACORN,  but you should really read about the Voter fraud committed in 2004 by purging the roles of voters (florida tried to keep the list secret, but then they were discovered to have false positives which were primarily Democrats and Minorities) , then there were the fact that 54% of spoiled ballots in Florida were those of African Americans, who overwhelmingly vote Democratic.  Of course, those are far less offensive in your mind than minimum wage workers filling out false voter registrations that never got used, or at least that is the way it appears based on your selective targeting of ACORN.

  • Anonymous

    you forgot one thing, i hold equil contempt for all those in washington… ;-)

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