Previous story:
«
Next story:
»

Legislators, LePage registered to vote on or near Election Day, group says

Mainers register to vote in May 2011 at the Bangor City Hall.
John Clarke Russ | BDN
Mainers register to vote in May 2011 at the Bangor City Hall.
By Eric Russell, BDN Staff
Posted Sept. 27, 2011, at 9:24 a.m.
Last modified Sept. 27, 2011, at 5:09 p.m.
Print this   E-mail this    Facebook this   Tweet this     

AUGUSTA, Maine — Members of the coalition hoping to restore Election Day voter registration in Maine released a list of legislators who voted to eliminate same-day registration but registered to vote on or near Election Day themselves.

Protect Maine Votes put out the list of names Tuesday before a special legislative session in hopes that the Legislature might change its mind on same-day voter registration before the issue goes to a statewide vote in November.

“We’re asking these members to reconsider the elimination of same-day registration and the move of the registration deadline,” said David Farmer, communications director for Protect Maine Votes. “Same-day registration has worked for nearly 40 years, and it has worked for many of the people who voted to kill it. We would like for those lawmakers to consider their own circumstances and work to restore same-day registration during today’s special session.”

The Legislature, which passed a congressional redistricting plan and a bill further restricting sale and possession of the designer drug bath salts on Tuesday, opted not to take up Farmer’s suggestion.

The list of legislators released includes three state senators — among them Senate President Kevin Raye of Perry, a co-sponsor of the bill that eliminated same-day registration — and seven members of the House of Representatives.

One person on the list, Sen. Garrett Mason of Lisbon Falls, said Protect Maine Votes got it wrong.

Mason said he registered a month before Election Day, but his registration didn’t get processed until the day before Election Day because he inadvertently left blank his date of birth. The clerk in his hometown caught the mistake and corrected it in time.

“I think my experience clearly demonstrates why we needed to change the law. It gives the clerks more time,” he said.

Same-day voter registration, which has been allowed for the last 38 years, was eliminated with the passage of LD 1376 in June. Both votes in the House and Senate fell sharply along party lines with Republicans supporting the ban and Democrats opposing it.

Since the bill’s passage, Protect Maine Votes has gathered the necessary signatures to force a statewide people’s veto in November. The change in law remains on hold pending the outcome of that vote.

On the list offered by Farmer, the legislators who voted to change Maine’s registration laws but who also registered on or shortly before Election Day include: Raye, Mason and Sen. Lois Snowe-Mello, and Reps. Bernard Ayotte, Eleanor Espling, Amy Volk, Patrick Flood, David Richardson, David Johnson and Aaron Libby. All are Republicans.

In addition to numerous members of the House and Senate whose registration would not have been allowed under current law, Gov. Paul LePage, who signed the bill eliminating same-day registration, registered to vote in Waterville on the day before Election Day in 1982.

Several members of LePage’s senior staff also registered on or near Election Day, including his press secretary and legislative policy coordinator.

Adrienne Bennett, the governor’s press secretary, said LePage was simply following the law as it existed at the time, and said that critics of eliminating same-day voter registration are grasping by going back 30 years to look at the governor’s voting records.

Raye’s spokesman, Scott Fish, said the Senate president did register on Election Day in 2001 in accordance with the law.

“But to suggest that anyone who obeyed the law is a hypocrite if that law changes at some point in the future is just ludicrous,” Fish said.

Lance Dutson, head of the Maine Heritage Policy Center, registered on the Monday before Election Day in 2010. The conservative advocacy organization is one of the lead opponents of the people’s veto campaign and held events in Portland and Bangor last week advocating for a “no” vote in November.

“One of the primary arguments made for the repeal of same-day registration is that people who register late don’t care, are lazy or are ill-informed,” Farmer said. “We’ve heard that over and over from the other side. But the fact is, many of the state’s most influential leaders, including the governor, prominent leaders in the Legislature, candidates for public office and business leaders have registered to vote close to Election Day.”

Similar articles:

Marketplace News

Marketplace

Guidelines for posting on bangordailynews.com

The Bangor Daily News encourages comments about stories, but you must follow our terms of service.

In brief:

  1. Keep it civil and stay on topic
  2. No vulgarity, racial slurs, name-calling or personal attacks.
  3. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.

The primary rule here is pretty simple: Treat others with the same respect you'd want for yourself. Here are some guidelines (see more):

  • Anonymous

    Well maybe just maybe they would have registered early if they had to.What has any of this got to do with keeping voting secure.Same day registering opens up the possibility for fraud clear and simple.Early registration stops no one from voting.Looking at the groups that are fighting this say’s alot .

  • Anonymous

    I’d support same day registration IF a photo ID was required to vote. Having neither just invites fraud.

  • Anonymous

    So, it seems that even the ardent opponents of Election Day Registration have circumstances in their lives that Maine’s thoughtful election process can accommodate.

    Their answer, of course, will be, “Well, I could have voted earlier,” but that’s not the point.

    Mainers have an election process that assures integrity already. The requirements, safeguards and protections afforded buy current laws, procedures and our computerized voter registration system are impeccable. Our experience of 38 years has demonstrated that.

    What is certain, however, is that eliminating Election Day Registration will mean that many legitimate voters will be denied, for various personal reasons, their right to participate in our democracy by establishing arbitrary and unnecessary cut-off dates whether they are 2 days or 2 months before an election.

    Fixing imaginary problems gains us nothing but costs us much.

  • Marthamainer

    Very interesting given the blustery claims that informed people have 300+ days to register and that no one should wake up on Election Day and say…I think I’ll register and vote.  

  • Anonymous

    That’s like saying red lights invite people to run them.  Yeah, right!  There is NO voter fraud problem in Maine.  The lame excuses that have been used to ram this law down Maine’s throat have proven to be just that, lame.  I can’t wait for the peoples’ vote that will ram it right back!  Bunch of  hypocrites. 

  • Anonymous

    This isn’t a coalition of voters. It is a coalition of frightened Democrats. They don’t want the same game played on them that they have played for decades. Get a life. You lost the election. We now have some real progress in this State.

  • Anonymous

    The fact that these same jokers who called people lazy and irresponsible for registering late are in fact hypocrites has a lot to say about the validity of their arguements for the law.  Just like your logic that fraud is “invited.”  What fraud, there is none.  Your red herring stinks to high heaven.  This law is a national republican cookie cutter wedge maneuver that has no place in Maine politics.   This law will be cast aside as the garbage it is. 

  • Anonymous

    This is typical republican “ideology” – do as I say, not as I do.

  • Anonymous

    From what I saw at the polls on election day in November 2010, I think that probably many of the people who voted for LePage also registered on election day.

  • Anonymous

    Why don’t you share with us details of what you saw and what makes you think what you think about it?

  • Anonymous

    Forcing a person to register early, will in NO way reduce the “potential” for fraud. If a person is intending to commit voter fraud, they will do so regardless of when they have to register. I highly doubt that an individual wakes up on election day and say’s “I think I’ll vote illegaly today.” As far as prior fraud, if their record on that issue was a batting average, they couldn’t play T-ball. Same day registration is no more of a fraud inducing system than early registration.

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

    So as you can all see by reading the quotes by David Farmer, this new law also makes republicans get registered before the election day and is therefore fair and impartial.  Thanks for clearing that up David.

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

    So as you can all see by reading the quotes by David Farmer, this new law also makes republicans get registered before the election day and is therefore fair and impartial.  Thanks for clearing that up David.

  • Anonymous

    Well, according to the article, the Governor, his staff and a huge chunk of the Republican delegation have been “playing that game” for years.  They should have gotten a life.

  • Anonymous

    Well, according to the article, the Governor, his staff and a huge chunk of the Republican delegation have been “playing that game” for years.  They should have gotten a life.

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

    You know David Farmer, her likes to stir up his base and get them speaking the democrat lingo.  I  think that they actually get new scripts to follow weekly now that they are in the minority.

  • Anonymous

    I dont understand what the big deal is? Its not saying democrats have to register early it means everybody. I think its going to be kinda inconvenient but it might help in that, people who know nothing about the issues or candidates probably wont go vote for them on someone else’s wish. I remember seeing all those youtube vids of idiots that thought obama was going to end the wars and pay all African americans restitution. I’ve always believed that you should have to show that you understand who the candidates are and what they plan to do in office before you can vote for them.

  • Anonymous

    I dont think we have a problem with voter fraud, and Id like to keep it that way. Taking a few common-sense steps to protect the election process isnt a bad thing. Ive heard a lot of very lame excuses for maintaining the status quo from the democrats over this issue. Requiring an ID suddenly became a “poll tax” even though you will need that same ID for multiple transactions in your daily life, its a poll tax if you need it to vote. Things like that. Complete and total nonsense. Require an ID to vote, its very simple. Then same-day registration isnt a problem in regard to possible fraud. What you are saying is that its ok if we have left the door open to voter fraud because nobody has committed fraud yet. Kinda like saying hey, its OK I have a fox in my henhouse, he hasnt eaten a chicken yet. Is that what you meant by the running red-lights reference?

  • newportres

    “The requirements, safeguards and protections afforded buy current laws, procedures and our computerized voter registration system are impeccable.”
    Really?
    Why don’t you expand a bit on what protections are in place?
    How are we ensuring that the person voting is the person enrolled to vote?
    How are we ensuring that the person enrolling is legal to vote in that municipality?
    Etc……
     

  • newportres

    “The requirements, safeguards and protections afforded buy current laws, procedures and our computerized voter registration system are impeccable.”
    Really?
    Why don’t you expand a bit on what protections are in place?
    How are we ensuring that the person voting is the person enrolled to vote?
    How are we ensuring that the person enrolling is legal to vote in that municipality?
    Etc……
     

  • newportres

    So if no officers write tickets for runnintg red lights at certain intersections we should be able to get rid of them?
    Point is, if no one is looking for fraud, no one is going to find any.

  • newportres

    So if no officers write tickets for runnintg red lights at certain intersections we should be able to get rid of them?
    Point is, if no one is looking for fraud, no one is going to find any.

  • newportres

    How can they be hypocrites if they never claimed they registered at any other time?
    If you know of a better way to do something does that mean you are a hypocrit for ever doing something the other way?

  • newportres

    How can they be hypocrites if they never claimed they registered at any other time?
    If you know of a better way to do something does that mean you are a hypocrit for ever doing something the other way?

  • newportres

    Looks like they are trying to.
    Are you saying things can never change once a lawmaker does something?
    Maybe someone who has been on welfare can now never speak out against welfare?

  • newportres

    Looks like they are trying to.
    Are you saying things can never change once a lawmaker does something?
    Maybe someone who has been on welfare can now never speak out against welfare?

  • Anonymous

    I really don’t understand how exactly does same day registration make fraud more likely if you’re required to show some sort of id in order to vote. The town offices don’t do anything extra when registering a person before an election than the poll workers do right on election day – no background checks to see where this person actually lives, etc.  Also, if you DON’T have proper id on election day you are given a provisional ballot that doesn’t count until after the election when proper registration can be verified. I’m not sure what other “fraud” this governor is concerned about. Its been pretty much confirmed that there was no evidence that college students voted in two different places during the last election. I suppose someone could go through the trouble of getting multiple fake ids and fake bills in order to vote at 20 places on election day, but I don’t think there’s any incentive for someone to go through all of that, and even if some did, early registration as it stands now, wouldn’t prevent that from happening. 

  • Anonymous

    I really don’t understand how exactly does same day registration make fraud more likely if you’re required to show some sort of id in order to vote. The town offices don’t do anything extra when registering a person before an election than the poll workers do right on election day – no background checks to see where this person actually lives, etc.  Also, if you DON’T have proper id on election day you are given a provisional ballot that doesn’t count until after the election when proper registration can be verified. I’m not sure what other “fraud” this governor is concerned about. Its been pretty much confirmed that there was no evidence that college students voted in two different places during the last election. I suppose someone could go through the trouble of getting multiple fake ids and fake bills in order to vote at 20 places on election day, but I don’t think there’s any incentive for someone to go through all of that, and even if some did, early registration as it stands now, wouldn’t prevent that from happening. 

  • Anonymous

    So, the BDN went back 29 years ago to unearth the earth-shattering news that Governor LePage registered to vote the day BEFORE election day in 1982.  Not on election day, the day before.

    There are also other references to legislators who voted “near” or on election day.  “Near” election day is not the same as “on” election day despite the conflation of the two. 

  • Anonymous

    in my town, you can say you are anyone and the old people “working” there won’t know….. that system is FAR from impeccable

  • Anonymous

    I drank once when I was underage…. I now DO NOT condone it… I think it leads to problems… age and wisdom has shown me that… so, if I tell my kids NOT to drink while underage, am I a hypocrite?  NO, I’m only a hypocrite if I am currently – right now, drinking while underage and telling others not to…… geesh… Lepage voted the day before (not day of) in 82…. 29 years ago…. one time….. do as I say and not as I do doesn’t really apply

  • kcjonez

    I’ve said it before and I will say it again–
    These guys are a bunch of hypocritical minions to out of state special interest groups that in no way represent the wants of the people of Maine.  Yes on 1!  

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QCC3ABRLTIU3EFA26HUIDQZTSM Chris

    Love it… You just can’t make this stuff up! It would be real interesting to see their voter registration cards to see if any fraud was involved. Didn’t Lepage claim he lived in Florida to get Lauren a tuition break… all be it when he was mayor of  Waterville…again you can’t make this stuff up.

  • Anonymous

    They are saying near of on election day because they voted and signed a bill that would make When they registered illegal. This all prevents people from registering 3 days before an election. 

  • Anonymous

    They are saying near of on election day because they voted and signed a bill that would make When they registered illegal. This all prevents people from registering 3 days before an election. 

  • Anonymous

    They are saying near of on election day because they voted and signed a bill that would make When they registered illegal. This all prevents people from registering 3 days before an election. 

  • Anonymous

    Kind of like a pesky mural. Makes it look like our legislators are doing something, when they aren’t.

  • Anonymous

    Umm, didn’t they spend the summer looking for fraud?

  • Anonymous

    Have seen how many cases of voter fraud has ME had? Seems like you can count them on one hand. Does that make any difference? 

    I have a dog that rolled in something nasty today. Maybe the legislature should look into Maine’s serious smelly dog problem.

  • Anonymous

    The old people know who is new in town too. Does that count for anything?  Smelly dog problems are serious to those unlucky enough to be around them, but does that merit a serious inquiry? Yes, I washed my dog….but what if I am unable to do that at some point in time. Serious problems facing our esteemed legislators.

  • Anonymous

    Some states are requiring more than a driver’s license. They can be faked. Serious problems in our so called democracy with so many of those poor voting.

  • Anonymous

    What this shows me is the right wing leaders are willing to vote, not only against Maine’s, but against their personal own best interests in support of their out of state corporate master’s agenda.  What make you do that ? 

    If you did it, nearly thirty years ago, Govenah, why isn’t same day registration a traditional Maine value, yet ? 

     

  • Anonymous

    Ahyup, you need others to make your argument, because there  have been how many proven cases of voter fraud ? 

    Stop beating that dead horse, it just makes you mean and obsessive, darlin’ . 

  • Anonymous

    Volunteer, once you do you’ll be doing it until you’re just as old as they are now, too. 

    ROTFLOL

  • yowsayowsa1

     So, did our governor do anything wrong????

  • Anonymous

    Why bother ? 
    That opinion is at least as valid as saying students are all breaking the law .  
    How well has that proven ? 
    Forgot already? 
     LOL 

  • Anonymous

    Keeping voting secure is your point now, Timmy ? 
    Why not look at Diebold Industries then ? 
    Talk your “what if” nonsense about what might be useful, at least, please. 

  • Anonymous

    How can one vote again what helped them,  already, and NOT be called a hypocrite, Newportres ? 

  • Anonymous

    Your raise a very good point MaryBelle. With identify theft and some of the other problems we have a license isnt proof-positive of anything anymore. But, if the clerk at the poll has an ID with a picture to look at and compare the address to its still safer than just checking off the name the person gives you and handing them a ballot.

  • Anonymous

    This article and your response don’t really seem to have any bearing on why this has been brought up in the first place. From what I understood, this was to relieve pressure on voting officials on voting day and to cut costs. Sure the election system works well, but this isn’t changing the vitals of the system, its changing the timing. Why does it matter? All they are asking is to just check in to your local town office to update your information so that you can vote. Another thing, why does it matter if Lepage registered to vote the day before election day in 1982? What bearing does this have on this argument? Why wouldn’t you take advantage of a resource if its given to you? There isn’t anything wrong with same day voter registration, and there isn’t anything wrong with registering in advance, its just a matter of a different type of organization of the voting system. It’s not like these legislators are going to end up not voting because they registered same day or close to same day before, they will simply register like they are supposed to and then vote when they are supposed to. If I miss voting because I didn’t register in time, its my own fault, I should’ve known better. It’s the same as not getting an inspection on my car or paying the electricity bill, if you don’t take care of those things before they are due then there are consequences.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_25LJ6KETIP5DVBAPMUYRGCCDTU Brandon D

    This totally makes them hypocrites.  What kind of logic is “They never said they did it, so it’s ok.”?  What you’re saying is that doing things that are ‘wrong’ is ok as long as nobody finds out.  All because LePage and company never brought up their past doesn’t mean it doesn’t factor in.  I haven’t heard the supporters of this bill say that there is any merit to same-day registration, so according to their way of thinking any same-day registration is wrong thus meaning LePage and company were in fact doing something wrong in their eyes.

  • Anonymous

    To Members of the coalition…. about this article…..so what….that fact is they registered as the law was written.  and as far as…”One of the primary arguments made for the repeal of same-day
    registration is that people who register late don’t care, are lazy or
    are ill-informed”  my only answer to that is…..is that the best you can do for an argument?  Find something better to do.

  • Anonymous

    I thought that was an Obama motto?

  • Anonymous

    Voter fraud is a miniscule problem in the US compared to election fraud. It is sanctioned by both parties. The reason? They can keep on voting for corporations and against US citizens with impunity. Beats me how Snowe and Collins have stayed in office.

  • Anonymous

    If lepage did register the day before and then voted the next day…no problem. The man is clean as a whistle on that one. Because the republicans approve!

  • Anonymous

    And just how do the “old people” know who is new in town? 

    I vote every election day and haven’t known any poll workers personally, nor do they know me.    

  • Anonymous

    WHO cares?  No wonder BDN is on the skids.

  • Anonymous

    Ah Diebold. 

    Our republican owned voting machines have been hacked in a matter of minutes and they do not have to give up their source codes for inquiring minds. Those who know more about computers than I do  , say that you can’t have a recount without those pesky little source codes. NH , which can make or break a presidential candidate in the primaries passed an odd law. Citizens can’t see the election results. Republicans keeping our elections safe from scrutiny. blackboxvoting.

  • Anonymous

    And republicans don’t get their talking points every day? LOL 

  • Anonymous

    Now Main Street’s whitewashed windows and vacant stores
    Seems like there ain’t nobody wants to come down here no more
    They’re closing down the paper mill across the railroad tracks
    Foreman says these jobs are going boys and they ain’t coming back
    to your hometown

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GS6BAZI3THAOUS5ZAAAPXYEKYM Homer

    1st – regarding photo ID. Nothing that i have a Constitutional Right to requires photo identification. Voting is a right so therefore any restriction of that right is an illegal barrier to exercising that right.

    2nd – this is very much a case of fixing something that wasn’t broken. As everyone in Maine knows – if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YAJZRSHZOYGTLTZOUREIQ7PRFY Mmmm

    What a bunch of hypocrites!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YAJZRSHZOYGTLTZOUREIQ7PRFY Mmmm

    What a bunch of hypocrites!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YAJZRSHZOYGTLTZOUREIQ7PRFY Mmmm

    What a bunch of hypocrites!

  • Anonymous

    You are right, Bruce Springsteen said it well!

  • Anonymous

    You are right, Bruce Springsteen said it well!

  • Anonymous

    You are right, Bruce Springsteen said it well!

  • Anonymous

    Personally I don’t give a d*mn if they registered the day of election, it was legal and that’s what counts.
     
    What I “DO” find interesting is the list of “Republicans”  that is posted ……….. BUT ………. 
    “Voting records for nine other members of the Legislature who voted to kill same-day registration show they also registered on or near Election Day, but those records could not be confirmed independently by Tuesday, Farmer said.” …………………….  I wonder how many of these are Democrats?
     

  • Anonymous

    Personally I don’t give a d*mn if they registered the day of election, it was legal and that’s what counts.
     
    What I “DO” find interesting is the list of “Republicans”  that is posted ……….. BUT ………. 
    “Voting records for nine other members of the Legislature who voted to kill same-day registration show they also registered on or near Election Day, but those records could not be confirmed independently by Tuesday, Farmer said.” …………………….  I wonder how many of these are Democrats?
     

  • Anonymous

    Personally I don’t give a d*mn if they registered the day of election, it was legal and that’s what counts.
     
    What I “DO” find interesting is the list of “Republicans”  that is posted ……….. BUT ………. 
    “Voting records for nine other members of the Legislature who voted to kill same-day registration show they also registered on or near Election Day, but those records could not be confirmed independently by Tuesday, Farmer said.” …………………….  I wonder how many of these are Democrats?
     

  • Anonymous

    The biggest problem with requiring a photo ID to vote is Maine can’t afford to go that route.  The US Supreme Court has ruled requiring the purchase of an ID in order to vote as a form of Poll Tax, which is unconstitutional.  Note, they ruled if you PURCHASE an ID.  So, if you want to require a photo ID in order to vote, you need to give that ID away for free.  I don’t think we can afford to do that at this time.

    The most recent ruling on this was in 2008 when someone challenged Indiana’s voter ID law. The law was upheld because the IDs were free. The court went on to point out that they would have struck down the law as a poll tax (against the US Constitution, Amendment 24) if Indiana did offer free IDs.

  • Anonymous

    The biggest problem with requiring a photo ID to vote is Maine can’t afford to go that route.  The US Supreme Court has ruled requiring the purchase of an ID in order to vote as a form of Poll Tax, which is unconstitutional.  Note, they ruled if you PURCHASE an ID.  So, if you want to require a photo ID in order to vote, you need to give that ID away for free.  I don’t think we can afford to do that at this time.

    The most recent ruling on this was in 2008 when someone challenged Indiana’s voter ID law. The law was upheld because the IDs were free. The court went on to point out that they would have struck down the law as a poll tax (against the US Constitution, Amendment 24) if Indiana did offer free IDs.

  • Anonymous

    The biggest problem with requiring a photo ID to vote is Maine can’t afford to go that route.  The US Supreme Court has ruled requiring the purchase of an ID in order to vote as a form of Poll Tax, which is unconstitutional.  Note, they ruled if you PURCHASE an ID.  So, if you want to require a photo ID in order to vote, you need to give that ID away for free.  I don’t think we can afford to do that at this time.

    The most recent ruling on this was in 2008 when someone challenged Indiana’s voter ID law. The law was upheld because the IDs were free. The court went on to point out that they would have struck down the law as a poll tax (against the US Constitution, Amendment 24) if Indiana did offer free IDs.

  • Anonymous

    What total hypocrites!!!!!!!!!  People, are you watching?  Take note, because these people will be on your ballots again.  I cannot tell you how much this infuriates me!  I want to hear what Lepage, Raye and the “dirty 9″ have to say about this!

  • Anonymous

    What total hypocrites!!!!!!!!!  People, are you watching?  Take note, because these people will be on your ballots again.  I cannot tell you how much this infuriates me!  I want to hear what Lepage, Raye and the “dirty 9″ have to say about this!

  • Anonymous

    Your comment does not address this issue.  Defend these 11 hypocrites, please!  You won’t, because there is no defense. 

  • Anonymous

    Your comment does not address this issue.  Defend these 11 hypocrites, please!  You won’t, because there is no defense. 

  • Anonymous

    Your comment does not address this issue.  Defend these 11 hypocrites, please!  You won’t, because there is no defense. 

  • Anonymous

    Some people are in favor of something until it goes against their interests.

  • Anonymous

    Some people are in favor of something until it goes against their interests.

  • Anonymous

    Some people are in favor of something until it goes against their interests.

  • Anonymous

    Yes, he voted to take away a Maine voters’ right that he himself took advantage of.  How do you defend this?  Don’ t you know that the Republicans are using this to deter college students from voting because college students usually vote Democrat?  It is so crystal clear.

  • Anonymous

    Yes, he voted to take away a Maine voters’ right that he himself took advantage of.  How do you defend this?  Don’ t you know that the Republicans are using this to deter college students from voting because college students usually vote Democrat?  It is so crystal clear.

  • Anonymous

    Yes, he voted to take away a Maine voters’ right that he himself took advantage of.  How do you defend this?  Don’ t you know that the Republicans are using this to deter college students from voting because college students usually vote Democrat?  It is so crystal clear.

  • Anonymous

    Then why don’t you volunteer to do it yourself?  Why don’t you stand up instead of complaining?

  • Anonymous

    Then why don’t you volunteer to do it yourself?  Why don’t you stand up instead of complaining?

  • Anonymous

    Then why don’t you volunteer to do it yourself?  Why don’t you stand up instead of complaining?

  • Anonymous

    it was James McMurtry (sp?), not sure of the first name, too lazy to Google it

  • Anonymous

    The reason they want to change it has nothing to do with the workload at the polls.  It is because college students usually register the day they vote and since college students usually vote Democrat, the Republicans are doing what they can to influence the elections.  Just like the redistricting plan.  It’s all a stratedy to get elected.

  • Anonymous

    So then how is it that we can require you to “register” to vote in the first place Homer? After all, its your right we’re talking about here. What the Constitution guarantees you is the freedom from “unreasonable” searches and seizures. If you present yourself at the poll to vote,  requiring an ID is PROTECTING your right, not withholding it. Requiring an ID ensures that YOU are the one voting and exercising your rights Homer and not some illegal immigrant from Guatemala. As far as fixing something that isnt broken goes, lets apply that standard to the current problem we have with bath salts. If this crap had already been illegal before it got here (and the ingredients to this crap should already have been illegal) then we’d have less of a problem now. Would you oppose that too and be demanding the chemicals be legalized? Fixing problems before they arise in the first place is called “maintenance” where I come from.

  • Anonymous

    BINGO!!!!!!!

  • Anonymous

    The man complied with the law as it was written 29 years ago.
    When laws change now, would you not comply with them?

  • newportres

    Umm, No!
    You had one guy submit names of college students who he thinks may have registered to vote here without ever doing any of the other things likje registering cars and such that people who actually live here do.
    You had another guy who looked at old complaints which Baldacci refused to even look at but since records aren’t kept long term he couldn’t prove anything.
    What part of any of that has anyone policing our system during elections to keep people from rigging the system?
    Never, has anyone watched over the system looking for fraud.  It is the equivelant of a highway with no highway patrol.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GBHAWY2DGMGS5W3VHFYLBPN7AU Jay C

    I do.  For the past 13 years the same woman has been working the voter lines.  She sees me approaching and she has my ballot ready for me when I get to the table….

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GBHAWY2DGMGS5W3VHFYLBPN7AU Jay C

    because that’s too hard….

  • newportres

    As I’ve said to you before.
    Who has ever looked in order to see the fraud?
    Please tell me once that you remember where anyone has ever made any attempt to check the system?
    No police means no speeding tickets.
    Does that also equate to no speeders in your mind?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GBHAWY2DGMGS5W3VHFYLBPN7AU Jay C

    According to Charlie Summers there has been, what, one I think….

  • Anonymous

    I’m curious, exactly what are those “requirements, safeguards, and protections afforded by current law” that protect our voting process? Also, how do you know that these have worked adequately in the past 38 years given that little attention was given to voter fraud and/or malpractices? Remember, people like you want to change the recently enacted law to permit same-day voter registration again, so the burden of proof in upon you. At this point I’m not convinced you have a valid argument. 

  • Anonymous

    That’s nice, but one specific anecdote doesn’t translate to the general.

  • newportres

    They are not hypocrits if they do what is legal but then decide more needs to be done to fix what is legal.
    I don’t show an ID when I vote because no one asks me for one.
    Does that mean that I am a hypocrit because I want everyone to be required to show IDs?
    Your logic fails.

  • newportres

    They are attempting to stop college students from voting here and at home.
    My kids have no problem voting here and never have.  Nor does anything proposed here stop them from voting.

  • Anonymous

    I love how cons blame the water when their corporate backed agenda does not float the voter’s boat. 

  • newportres

    If there were no cops and no enforcement on the highway would you use the lack of tickets written as proof that there is no speeding?

  • Anonymous

    You may have a point, but is it not the Democrats who have the tendency to pass laws restricting personal freedoms, ability to create jobs, free enterprise, etc?

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

    Except the Republican argument is that so-called “lazy” people who register on Election Day are uninformed and should have worked harder to register earlier. Which these people did not do.

  • newportres

    First, voting is a right, but not voting without proving who you are.  That’s kind of stretching things.
    The 2nd amendment is my right but I can not buy a gun same day and also buy it without showing ID.
    If you Dems can mess with my rights then why shouldn’t I be able to apply the same restrictions to yours?

  • newportres

    Ids are much better now after Real ID.

  • newportres

    The State of Maine has more IDs issued than there are eligible voters.
    Doesn’t seem to me like we would ahve to print too many more.  Most of those are DLs and since you are actually paying for the right to drive no problem.
    Other states require an ID I’m sure we can figure out how to manage it too.

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

    They are attempting to stop a non-existent problem, in other words.

  • newportres

    No one can vote against underage drinking if they once drank when they were underage?
    No one can vote against MJ use if they once took a toke?
    No one can ever again set laws on speeding if they once sped?
    You don’t seem to leave a lot of room for people to rethink their views do you.

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

    That would be because he lived in the same location for the past 29 years.

  • Anonymous

    My dictionary defines hypocrisy as: “the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform; pretense.” I assume those 11 hypocrites you refer to are those legislators listed in the feathered article who registered on or just before election day at one time in their lives. But they were just following the law that existed at the time that allowed them to register when they did. So what is so hypocritical about that? Was their any pretense on their part? If so, what exactly is this pretense that relates to their support of the current voter registration law?

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

    Except that under the new law, one cannot register to vote the day before an election, either.

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

    Except that under the new law, one cannot register to vote the day before an election, either.

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

    Except that under the new law, one cannot register to vote the day before an election, either.

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

    As no Democrats voted to kill same-day registration, the answer would be “none”.

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

    As no Democrats voted to kill same-day registration, the answer would be “none”.

  • Anonymous

    As far as I know Mainers are still allowed to vote. So what voter right has been taken away? Bear in mind I don’t care what the Republicans’ motivation may or may not be if the current law is sensible, which I feel it is.

  • Anonymous

    As far as I know Mainers are still allowed to vote. So what voter right has been taken away? Bear in mind I don’t care what the Republicans’ motivation may or may not be if the current law is sensible, which I feel it is.

  • Anonymous

    As far as I know Mainers are still allowed to vote. So what voter right has been taken away? Bear in mind I don’t care what the Republicans’ motivation may or may not be if the current law is sensible, which I feel it is.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t mean this badly, rather as trying to be nice to you, 
    but are you happy being so negative ? 

    We get a feeling for all that you are against, but what is it that really for; 
    less big government, 
    or more laws against all that you think others must be doing wrong ?

  • Anonymous

    OK, I will ponder your highway patrol agruement for a moment.  If the republicans claim that there is no money to combat the proven problem of bath salts, where is the money to fund  fraud patrols for an unproven problem going to come from?

  • Anonymous

    I want to see LePage’s birth certificate. There’s something about that grenouille that just don’t add up.

  • Anonymous

    Good point and I have always wondered why I DON’T need to show ID when I vote.  I have to pick up my mail at the PO now.

  • Anonymous

    Another daily attack on our Governor and Republicans.

  • Anonymous

    What an absolute riot…So once again the ROBthePUBLICans are demanding that Mainers do as they say not as they do. As far as Garrett Mason’s claim of how he actually registered a month before an election but “inadvertently left blank his date of birth”…So you’re in the Maine State Senate and you can’t correctly fill out a Maine Voter Registration Card???? Seriously??? Maybe the law should read that you have to demonstrate how to fill out a two-sided form before being elected to the Maine State Senate!!!

  • Anonymous

    Mr Russel and BDN!!!!!
    One very very important change should be made to your article. You say that registering on election day or the day before is now illegal.
    “Among the list of legislators offered by Farmer who voted to change Maine’s registration laws but have registered within the time that is now illegal are:”
    That is not correct, since the issue is the subject of a citizen initiative and will be on the november ballott, the law voted on by a majority of legislators and signed by Governor LePage is officially “on hold” till after Issue 1 is decided.

  • Anonymous

    So if it’s a party issue than how many Democrats over Republicans have taken advantage of election day registration?  That would be an interesting number!

    And to answer why these state workers/politicians have used election day registration – it was available.  Now that it’s not available they wont need the ability to do so…

  • newportres

    I believe the Republican argument is that people can register earlier end of story.
    My wife registered on voting day many years ago.  That doesn’t mean she couldn’t have done it earlier but it was an option so she waited.
    No ID required and no one knew us in  town.  As far as I know we never  unregistered in any of the places we had lived before but no one questioned that either.
    You really believe that there is no potential for fraud in a system like this?

  • newportres

    How would you know if it is non-existant or not? 
    No one has ever looks to see if these kids vote in both states or not.

  • newportres

    Because you are limited by what the law allows you to do as a poll worker.
    If there is no law requiring voters to show ID then you have no right to ask for one.

  • newportres

    Because it is impossible to change the system without changing the laws first.

  • newportres

    Funny how none of these posters wants to talk about what safeguards there are in use now isn’t it?

  • Anonymous

    The law worked fine for 40 years.  Two generations of voters and no problems.  Now it is do as I say, not as I do.    This is clearly voter suppression tactics in subtle form. 

    I don’t get it.  Many of these legislators benefited from the law they repealed but now other people are too stupid to understand the law.  If the law is good enough to be used by the wannabe U.S. Congressman Raye, then it is good enough for all citizens of Maine.  Even those downeast.

  • newportres

    If you put safeguards in like ID requirements and allow enough time for City clerks to check up on you what is left to patrol?
    People already have the job of checking and validating the voter roles.  The point of getting rid of same day registration is to allow them the time to do their jobs.
    Once they start checking up on those who register I’m betting you will see some issues.
    Thing is, much like the highway with no patrol, right now no one is looking.

  • newportres

    What does your comment have to do with my reply? 
    I mean other than admitting you have no point as usual.
    I am negative to your agenda.  I would imagine though that to someone of a conservative bent I would seem pretty spot on.
    Feel free to reply to the point I made or stop trying but that is about the limit of our conversation. 

  • Anonymous

    Well, while I think the whole poll tax argument is B.S., we’ll skip that for now. The law is what it is. I think that the state, which is usually willing to give away everything, should issue a citizen a FREE ID when they register to vote. I mean, last time I checked the government doesnt charge  for a Social Security card so I think issuing free ID (at least to the poor) is something that should be feasable.

  • Regular Joe

    YES!  I was wondering about that!  

    The beverage tax and the same-sex marriage people’s veto efforts resulted in those laws being left in limbo pending the outcome of the veto vote.  I do not see how THIS law would not follow the same rules.  Even the Portland Press Herald noted that.

  • Regular Joe

    This issue is not whether these people did anything illegal.  No one is saying that they did something illegal.

    The point being made is that these people want to take away an option for everyone that they, themselves, have used before.  That sounds hypocritical. 

  • Anonymous

    Didnt you get the memo? Speaking out against welfare is racist. So is being a Republican. Or a red-blooded American. Or being heterosexual. All racist plots against some democrats.

  • Anonymous

    And just how do the “old people” know who is new in town?  
    Evidently you do not live in a small rural community, which constitutes a lot of upper state ME.

  • Regular Joe

    Good grief.  That’s just silly, now.  Anyone can make a similarly ridiculous statement about Republicans and neither statement will get anyone anywhere.

  • Anonymous

    “How would you know if it is non-existant or not?”  
    Well, there is always that American traditional value… probable cause. Got any ? 

    No ? 
    Oh, well then you can spare a cup of innocent, until proven guilty ? 

  • Anonymous

    “it is impossible to change the system without changing the laws first.”
    It is equally impossible to fix what isn’t broken, too. 

  • Anonymous

    Not an attack. They want to imply that there is something devious about utilizing same-day registration. It’s relevant to point out that some of these same people engaged in the same behavior they seek to smear. 

  • Anonymous

    Sorry, I not be humane to you any more. 
    You don’t get it, I guess. 

  • Anonymous

    Talk about grasping for straws……

  • Anonymous

    Talk about grasping for straws……

  • Anonymous

    Talk about grasping for straws……

  • Anonymous

    Talk about grasping for straws……

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PPIP2RLCDAYN4ZKQ4B3DVEBW5I doggone

    Real progress!! Havn’t seen or heard about any of those varmits, where you getting your information from.  The only thing resulting from the last election so far, is confirmation that we have a vulgar Governor who has embarrest his party leadership in the Senate.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PPIP2RLCDAYN4ZKQ4B3DVEBW5I doggone

    Real progress!! Havn’t seen or heard about any of those varmits, where you getting your information from.  The only thing resulting from the last election so far, is confirmation that we have a vulgar Governor who has embarrest his party leadership in the Senate.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PPIP2RLCDAYN4ZKQ4B3DVEBW5I doggone

    Real progress!! Havn’t seen or heard about any of those varmits, where you getting your information from.  The only thing resulting from the last election so far, is confirmation that we have a vulgar Governor who has embarrest his party leadership in the Senate.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PPIP2RLCDAYN4ZKQ4B3DVEBW5I doggone

    Real progress!! Havn’t seen or heard about any of those varmits, where you getting your information from.  The only thing resulting from the last election so far, is confirmation that we have a vulgar Governor who has embarrest his party leadership in the Senate.

  • Anonymous

    We live in a much different time than 20-30 years ago when it’s claimed that LePage registered. Immigration, both legal and illegal is rampant. We also do not need college students making decisions on state issues that we have to live with after they go back to their home state after a semester.
    Of course the liberals want the liberal college vote.
    What is wrong with being a tax paying, vehicle registered in Maine, citizen before you are allowed to help spend our money and decide how we will live?
    If the Democrats had their way, the 9/11 terrorists would have been able to stop and cast their vote on their way through Maine.
    Eventually you will get it through your head that we are no longer under the liberal rule.

  • Anonymous

    We live in a much different time than 20-30 years ago when it’s claimed that LePage registered. Immigration, both legal and illegal is rampant. We also do not need college students making decisions on state issues that we have to live with after they go back to their home state after a semester.
    Of course the liberals want the liberal college vote.
    What is wrong with being a tax paying, vehicle registered in Maine, citizen before you are allowed to help spend our money and decide how we will live?
    If the Democrats had their way, the 9/11 terrorists would have been able to stop and cast their vote on their way through Maine.
    Eventually you will get it through your head that we are no longer under the liberal rule.

  • Anonymous

    We live in a much different time than 20-30 years ago when it’s claimed that LePage registered. Immigration, both legal and illegal is rampant. We also do not need college students making decisions on state issues that we have to live with after they go back to their home state after a semester.
    Of course the liberals want the liberal college vote.
    What is wrong with being a tax paying, vehicle registered in Maine, citizen before you are allowed to help spend our money and decide how we will live?
    If the Democrats had their way, the 9/11 terrorists would have been able to stop and cast their vote on their way through Maine.
    Eventually you will get it through your head that we are no longer under the liberal rule.

  • Anonymous

    We live in a much different time than 20-30 years ago when it’s claimed that LePage registered. Immigration, both legal and illegal is rampant. We also do not need college students making decisions on state issues that we have to live with after they go back to their home state after a semester.
    Of course the liberals want the liberal college vote.
    What is wrong with being a tax paying, vehicle registered in Maine, citizen before you are allowed to help spend our money and decide how we will live?
    If the Democrats had their way, the 9/11 terrorists would have been able to stop and cast their vote on their way through Maine.
    Eventually you will get it through your head that we are no longer under the liberal rule.

  • Anonymous

    We live in a much different time than 20-30 years ago when it’s claimed that LePage registered. Immigration, both legal and illegal is rampant. We also do not need college students making decisions on state issues that we have to live with after they go back to their home state after a semester.
    Of course the liberals want the liberal college vote.
    What is wrong with being a tax paying, vehicle registered in Maine, citizen before you are allowed to help spend our money and decide how we will live?
    If the Democrats had their way, the 9/11 terrorists would have been able to stop and cast their vote on their way through Maine.
    Eventually you will get it through your head that we are no longer under the liberal rule.

  • Anonymous

    We live in a much different time than 20-30 years ago when it’s claimed that LePage registered. Immigration, both legal and illegal is rampant. We also do not need college students making decisions on state issues that we have to live with after they go back to their home state after a semester.
    Of course the liberals want the liberal college vote.
    What is wrong with being a tax paying, vehicle registered in Maine, citizen before you are allowed to help spend our money and decide how we will live?
    If the Democrats had their way, the 9/11 terrorists would have been able to stop and cast their vote on their way through Maine.
    Eventually you will get it through your head that we are no longer under the liberal rule.

  • Anonymous

    We live in a much different time than 20-30 years ago when it’s claimed that LePage registered. Immigration, both legal and illegal is rampant. We also do not need college students making decisions on state issues that we have to live with after they go back to their home state after a semester.
    Of course the liberals want the liberal college vote.
    What is wrong with being a tax paying, vehicle registered in Maine, citizen before you are allowed to help spend our money and decide how we will live?
    If the Democrats had their way, the 9/11 terrorists would have been able to stop and cast their vote on their way through Maine.
    Eventually you will get it through your head that we are no longer under the liberal rule.

  • Anonymous

    The biggest threat of voter fraud comes from republicant actions.  In states such as Florida and Ohio  the list of dirty tricks and hacked diebold voting machines actually did cause fraud.

    You know, like in NH and ME where republicants actually jammed phones to prevent voters from getting to the polls, or in Michigan where there were not enough voting machines in the college towns.  Dirty tricks and political miscreants occur in all political parties, but the republicants put on a clinic.

    It’s plain and simple.  The more voters that cast ballots, the less republicants/tee baggers get elected.  The republicants don’t want large voter turnout–period.

    Same day registration is a good thing and the good people of Maine will use the people’s veto to keep it intact.

  • Anonymous

    The biggest threat of voter fraud comes from republicant actions.  In states such as Florida and Ohio  the list of dirty tricks and hacked diebold voting machines actually did cause fraud.

    You know, like in NH and ME where republicants actually jammed phones to prevent voters from getting to the polls, or in Michigan where there were not enough voting machines in the college towns.  Dirty tricks and political miscreants occur in all political parties, but the republicants put on a clinic.

    It’s plain and simple.  The more voters that cast ballots, the less republicants/tee baggers get elected.  The republicants don’t want large voter turnout–period.

    Same day registration is a good thing and the good people of Maine will use the people’s veto to keep it intact.

  • Anonymous

    The biggest threat of voter fraud comes from republicant actions.  In states such as Florida and Ohio  the list of dirty tricks and hacked diebold voting machines actually did cause fraud.

    You know, like in NH and ME where republicants actually jammed phones to prevent voters from getting to the polls, or in Michigan where there were not enough voting machines in the college towns.  Dirty tricks and political miscreants occur in all political parties, but the republicants put on a clinic.

    It’s plain and simple.  The more voters that cast ballots, the less republicants/tee baggers get elected.  The republicants don’t want large voter turnout–period.

    Same day registration is a good thing and the good people of Maine will use the people’s veto to keep it intact.

  • Anonymous

    The biggest threat of voter fraud comes from republicant actions.  In states such as Florida and Ohio  the list of dirty tricks and hacked diebold voting machines actually did cause fraud.

    You know, like in NH and ME where republicants actually jammed phones to prevent voters from getting to the polls, or in Michigan where there were not enough voting machines in the college towns.  Dirty tricks and political miscreants occur in all political parties, but the republicants put on a clinic.

    It’s plain and simple.  The more voters that cast ballots, the less republicants/tee baggers get elected.  The republicants don’t want large voter turnout–period.

    Same day registration is a good thing and the good people of Maine will use the people’s veto to keep it intact.

  • Anonymous

    The biggest threat of voter fraud comes from republicant actions.  In states such as Florida and Ohio  the list of dirty tricks and hacked diebold voting machines actually did cause fraud.

    You know, like in NH and ME where republicants actually jammed phones to prevent voters from getting to the polls, or in Michigan where there were not enough voting machines in the college towns.  Dirty tricks and political miscreants occur in all political parties, but the republicants put on a clinic.

    It’s plain and simple.  The more voters that cast ballots, the less republicants/tee baggers get elected.  The republicants don’t want large voter turnout–period.

    Same day registration is a good thing and the good people of Maine will use the people’s veto to keep it intact.

  • Anonymous

    The biggest threat of voter fraud comes from republicant actions.  In states such as Florida and Ohio  the list of dirty tricks and hacked diebold voting machines actually did cause fraud.

    You know, like in NH and ME where republicants actually jammed phones to prevent voters from getting to the polls, or in Michigan where there were not enough voting machines in the college towns.  Dirty tricks and political miscreants occur in all political parties, but the republicants put on a clinic.

    It’s plain and simple.  The more voters that cast ballots, the less republicants/tee baggers get elected.  The republicants don’t want large voter turnout–period.

    Same day registration is a good thing and the good people of Maine will use the people’s veto to keep it intact.

  • Regular Joe

    You must be forgetting that the US Supreme Court ruled that college students have a right to vote where they are attending school.
    Making such statements like that about the 9/11 terrorists is just silly.

  • Regular Joe

    You must be forgetting that the US Supreme Court ruled that college students have a right to vote where they are attending school.
    Making such statements like that about the 9/11 terrorists is just silly.

  • MARINE73

    Removing same day registration protects the citizens of Maine from special interest groups who literally come by the car load into Maine, register under someone else’s address, then votes to support their agenda and leaves.  These people know all the tricks.  It happens everywhere, including here. We need to stop the registration process several days prior to the elections, or even weeks, so that all registrations can be verified as legitimate Maine citizens. 

  • Regular Joe

    I suppose theoretically that’s true. But is this a real concern? Does this really happen? Can you provide us with examples of when and where this happened here in Maine?
    It also prevents the good citizen who, for whatever reason, isn’t able to register early.
    I am sure that this law, which is NOT IN EFFECT pending the outcome of the election (and therefore there will be same-day registration this November), will hurt more good Americans than prevent those slippery carloads of evildoers from voting.

  • Regular Joe

    For those who have missed the update that was made in the past hour or so:

    “Since the bill’s passage, Protect Maine Votes has gathered the necessary signatures to force a statewide people’s veto in November. The change in law remains on hold pending the outcome of that vote.”

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T3YNF6MG3FPEAVTFIJC44VQUI Dlbrt

    No more same day registration?

    It’s all because Republicans want a good return on Investment .

      They have spent millions on the media spewing  hate and lies over the airwaves all year long to work their base to the polls in a vengeance and the don’t like it when a few johnny come latley Democratic adds on TV tell the truth at the last minute that urge the sane and  more apathetic / un prepared to the polls! 

  • Anonymous

    Wow another tempest in a teapot. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T3YNF6MG3FPEAVTFIJC44VQUI Dlbrt

    Free speach!

    Should I get a permit three days in advance to say what I think?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T3YNF6MG3FPEAVTFIJC44VQUI Dlbrt

    The right to bear arms will not be infringed!

    Republicans fight hard for this right, as waiting periods are an infringement! ( Good, I agree!) but why do they want to infringe on voters rights and not the gun owners!

    Political Gain?

  • Regular Joe

    Wow. That’s a really good point. I never thought of that.

    Also, one benefit that they want here in Maine is to take away as many pro-gay marry votes as they can. They don’t believe college students should vote if they’re from away and if they are “valid” voters, then they know that the kids usually wait to the last minute for all sorts of things. Ensuring that they can’t register to vote on the same day they cast their vote helps them considerably. (And belittling them by saying that waiting to the last minute is irresponsible so they don’t deserve to vote is un-American).
    Putting these limits on voting is like the limits they are working to get across the country on abortion. Sure, they say, you can STILL get an abortion, you just have to wait 24 hours and take a mental evaluation. Gays are free to marry, sure-just anyone of the opposite gender. You’re still free to vote, just do it on our terms.
    Land of the free!

  • http://twitter.com/auburncynic md

    Charlie Summers just completed an investigation into allegations of fraud and the worst his office found was due to clerical errors, maybe 1 actual case of fraud. So yes it was looked into

  • http://twitter.com/auburncynic md

    Yet no poll worker or town clerk actually attended the public hearings to voice their support of the bill while it was up for a vote. 

  • Anonymous

    Is it really that difficult to understand?  These republican lawmakers, think they can stand in judgement of the people who have registered to vote on or near the day of an election, yet are taking advantage of the very part of the law they wish to remove.   Sure sounds like a bunch of hypocrites, to me.    If these were men of their word, they would have set the example, and not have been made an example of.  Not to mention the fact that several of these republicans have now fallen flat on their face when it comes to the motivation for this legislation.  They cried voter fraud all over the Radio and TV, and used that as reason to stop same-day registration, then they find absolutely no wrong doing of any kind. 

  • Anonymous

    “Evidently you do not live in a small rural community,”

    So what?  Neither do a lot of voters in Maine. 

    So your suggestion that poll workers  personally knowing every voter is a valid safeguard against voter fraud is meaningless.

  • Regular Joe

    I would bet that MOST voters in Maine live in small rural communities.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1473642850 Andrew Perkins

    If you work out of state like I used to do and come home to vote, then suddenly find out you are not registered in the town you have voted in for years, and have to register again, because the republican clerks lost your voter information, then you would understand why same day registration is important to a few of us. I am not a mexican. 

  • Anonymous

    That seems to be the attitude of so many south of Bangor, especially in Augusta now.

  • Anonymous

    Not the commentars on BDN, seems like the far right came out of the woodwork with the election of lapage.

  • Anonymous

    Yes, some, and I say, “some”, of these Republican legislators have pointed out the possibility of voter fraud by some voters in instances where voter fraud or malpractice could realistically have occurred. If there is something fishy out there, or, if there are some voting irregularities, it’s incumbent upon them to look further into the matter. I can’t fault them for doing that because I support vigilance in matters that are very important, such as, upholding our constitutional rights to fair elections, a duty shared by all citizens. As far as I’m concerned, whether Republican or Democrat, everyone needs to set “the example” by being and continuing to be vigilant regardless of public outcry.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T3YNF6MG3FPEAVTFIJC44VQUI Dlbrt

    Legislators, LePage registered to vote on or near Election Day, group says

    Yeah, but they voted Republicon!

  • Lori Cole

    Putting the “con” in Conservative.

  • Anonymous

    There’s Eric Russell again writing an article for his friends.  Wonder how Eric got the idea to write this article huummmm.

  • Regular Joe

    What does this even mean?

    Where do reporters usually get their ideas?

    You seem to be ignoring the hypocrisy of the governor and the legislatures wanting to prevent their fellow Mainers from doing what they did themselves.

  • Anonymous

    of course not, they probably get overtime out of it.

  • Anonymous

    Then why don’t you volunteer to do it yourself?
    **********************************************
    even if lindsaygray volunteered at the polls, she STILL would have the same problem as the “old people working there now”.  If you don’t know the person standing before you personally, and you cannot ask for ID, you cannot guarantee with any certainty that the person is eligible to vote.

  • Anonymous

    Learn to spell “speech”!

  • Anonymous

    And just how do the “old people” know who is new in town? Evidently you do not live in a small rural community, which constitutes a lot of upper state ME.     
    ***************************************
    Ft. Kent, Madawaska, Caribou and Houlton are hardly small rural communities.  All the little old retired ladies in those towns don’t know everyone, and just becausethey may know someone is new to the area doesn’t mean they are who they SAY they are or that they are eligible to vote.

  • Anonymous

    I would bet that MOST voters in Maine live in small rural communities.     
    *********************************************
    depends on how you define “small”.  What is the total population for a town that you would call “small”?

  • Anonymous

    I have never been asked to show ID, to proof my US citizenship, or for my driver’s license (which would only prove that I can drive.)  And yet, in order to be able to register to vote, one must be a US citizen, have a local residence and proof of such, and personal ID.  Talk about potential for fraud!  How many people can go and register with a driver’s license and utility bill, yet not be US citizens?   I only have to open my mouth and people know I was not born in this country; yet, did anyone ever ask me if I was legally eligible to vote?  Never, and I have registered in 5 different states.

  • Regular Joe

    And we all know that merely showing ID is not enough either. How many people under 21 have fake IDs? This evil terror of the invalid vote-stealer from away could very easily obtain a fake ID to help him or her throw an election.
    The only fool proof way is to register 6 months ahead, pass a patriot citizen background test, take a “What Is Your Priority, Citizen?” voter test, submit a DNA sample, and have your retina scanned each time you vote. Of course, the voter might still have malice in his or her heart and vote the wrong way, so make sure the curtains are open and watch the hand that marks the selection.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t speak for everyone. Do not consider Houlton small..not familiar with Ft. Kent…have been through it , but it is   not small. Caribou? Know any other large towns in upper state ME? Presque Isle? Not small either. And your point is that WE live in large towns up here, above Bangor?

  • Regular Joe

    Maybe because we aren’t at the point where we must show papers yet. I am not sure I like that I should suspected of being a foreign devil stealing votes and must prove that I am American before I can vote.
    This current system in Maine works and it has been shown that there is no voter fraud. The contradictory Republican idea of more government in this case only serves one goal and that is NOT suppressing voter fraud, unless voter fraud is any vote that is not Republican.
    The trend of creating a panic situation far from the truth to stamp out what they don’t like was very effective in 2009 (THEY WILL TEACH THE GAY TO YOUR CHILD!) and God knows they are working it again with this issue.

  • Anonymous

    Vote to keep the new law and show how Maine supports the Tea Party and our great new Governor.
    This will be a litmus test to show how Maine has become a Red State. 

  • Anonymous

    I forgot about P.I.   Limestone, though a mere shell of itself, is still ‘bigger’ than a small town.  No, my point was that more voters are in larger towns and cities than there are in  the small, rural towns combined.  That just because the election clerks in Frankfort (total pop. about 1000) MAY know every registered voter, it doesn’t mean that the election clerks in Orono (and certainly not Bangor) know every registered voter.

  • Regular Joe

    Wha…..? Why would we want to do that and show that we are another ALEC carbon copy?

  • Anonymous

    “Don’t do as I do, do as I say”.  Echos the all too common advice smoking parents give their kids not to smoke.  Hypocritical.

  • Anonymous

    These are great ideas. Perhaps to guarantee lack of malice one could provide proof of regular church attendance. I also think it would help if we raised the voting age to 30. The freshly indoctrinated college set will need mind healing time before they’re able to vote rationally.

  • Anonymous

    And we all know that merely showing ID is not enough either. How many people under 21 have fake IDs? 
    *****************************************
    I don’t know, Joe…how many?  I’m sure you know the answer to your question, or you wouldn’t have asked.  It is very difficult to make a “fake ID” these days, what with all the security measures built into driver’s licenses.  But, it would certainly be easier to commit fraud when you don’t have to show any kind of proof that you are who you say you are.  If you had to show ID, anyone who considered committing fraud would probably not go through the trouble making some kind of “fake ID”, thereby drawing attention to him/herself.  I just keep thinking back to the last election when the fundies got the same-sex marriage law overturned.  For several weeks prior to the election, the polls were showing that the referendum wouldn’t pass, and even late into Tuesday night when the poll results from the cities and large towns came in with overwhelming support for keeping the law in place.  Then, the results came in from “north of Bangor” etc., and wiped out allthe votes from the cities and large towns.  I can’t believe that so many people showed up to vote for the referendum without some kind of fraud.  The BDN reported on all the out-of-state money from NOM, and on all the people who came in to Maine to push NOM’s agenda.  Is it such a stretch to believe that a few thousand people came in for the week from another state, registered to vote here and gave a valid address of a friend or relative, or the Maine office of NOM?

  • Anonymous

    Even worse, neither the article nor Mr Farmer provides any quotes of anyone saying any of those things.

  • Regular Joe

    As hard as I worked on the No on 1 campaign, I do not believe that we lost due to voter fraud. I do think it’s a stretch to say that NOM imported thousands of people here so that they could vote against us.
    The outcome in those parts of the state matched what we knew from voter identification processes. With what I know of those areas and the people who have reported their observations of seas of yellow signs, I found the outcome not unexpected.
    I DO believe we lost because of the lies and misinformation that no amount of voter validation can counteract.
    I find it curious that you seem to be liberal but are buying into more conservative lies and misinformation….

  • Anonymous

    I DO believe we lost because of the lies and misinformation that no amount of voter validation can counteract. I find it curious that you seem to be liberal but are buying into more conservative lies and misinformation….
    ************************************************
    yes, the lies on the “right” did have a detrimental effect, and there was not enough time left in the campaign to counteract it.   idk, maybe my suspicious nature more easily allows me to think that since NOM  helped put out those lies in the first place, not to mention not complying with state election laws, that they would just as easily commit voter fraud. 
    I am neither liberal nor conservative—I don’t like labels.  I hold to libertarian ideals.  I also moved here from a densely populated state that required voters to register a month in advance and to produce ID at the polls.  Surprisingly, I’m OK with that. 

  • Anonymous

    It was meant to be silly. Just like it would be to not make sure someone voting on our issues is a taxpaying resident. 

  • Anonymous

    “do as i say, not as i do”  
                  The Hyprocrites’ Credo 

  • Anonymous

    i share your concern about voter fraud.  my concern is that our country has a long and celebrated history of expanding voter rights.  

    while limiting/controlling fraud is important,  expanding citizen suffrage is more important.  we need to be very careful about creating laws that stand between the citizens and their right to vote.  it is the most fundamental of US rights.

  • Anonymous

    i think you just defined the issue perfectly.  it is all partisan tit-for-tat. 

  • Anonymous

    i think you just defined the issue perfectly.  it is all partisan tit-for-tat. 

  • Anonymous

    Hey it’s not an easy thing to steal an election. Republicans are working overtime chasing the corndog at the end of this stick.

  • Anonymous

    Hey it’s not an easy thing to steal an election. Republicans are working overtime chasing the corndog at the end of this stick.

  • Anonymous

    What bothers me the most about this voter issue is that again, we look to government to fix our problem with more laws.

    I think the founding fathers had envisioned a citizenry that performs their civic duty and shows up to volunteer at the polls.  

     it seems the Tea Party has turned  us in to a nation of whiners and finger pointers, rather than a nation of people united by service, civic pride and participation.  

    for a group of people who want less government, the TP seems to prefer legislative solutions to problems that don’t exist.

  • Anonymous

    What bothers me the most about this voter issue is that again, we look to government to fix our problem with more laws.

    I think the founding fathers had envisioned a citizenry that performs their civic duty and shows up to volunteer at the polls.  

     it seems the Tea Party has turned  us in to a nation of whiners and finger pointers, rather than a nation of people united by service, civic pride and participation.  

    for a group of people who want less government, the TP seems to prefer legislative solutions to problems that don’t exist.

  • Anonymous

    Telling the truth is not an attack, it’s telling the truth. 

  • Anonymous

    So they registered on or just before election day. If the law gets
    changed, even they wouldn’t be allowed to do it anymore. This
    is just a phoney try to say “but they did it”. Yes, but it will be past
    tense, it couldn’t be done anymore…period!

  • Anonymous

    i tend to agree with your concerns.  and i lived in Fla where they do require ID, not a big deal.

    to me, the issue is not about fraud, but about the sanctity of voter suffrage.  we have a long and glorious history of expanding voter rights, not limiting them.

    i am very uncomfortable creating legislation/laws or barriers between the voter and the polls.  it goes against everything in our common US history.

    i don’t think 200+ years of history is a ‘lame excuse”, as you say.

  • Regular Joe

    “Just like it would be to not make sure someone voting on our issues is a taxpaying resident.”
    Sounds like someone’s advocating a runaround poll-tax. Making it so that someone pays taxes here before he or she can vote would disenfranchise a whole lot of people. How about the people that stay at home and are fully supported by their spouses? Or the people who are fully supported by their parents? Students from Belgrade who attend Husson and don’t work? Why all this focus on paying taxes in order to be allowed to vote?

  • Regular Joe

    A phony try to say “but they did it”? Nothing phony about it. They did it because it was convenient or necessary for them to do it. Now they are saying that NO ONE should be allowed to do it. Why?

  • Anonymous

    National Security Lab hacks Diebold Voting Machine with $26 dollars worth of computer parts. So easy to steal an entire election. Change a few laws for the locals.

    http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8785

  • Anonymous

    It is finally coming out. National Security Lab hacks Diebold voting machine with $26 dollars worth of computer parts. Diebold, owned by republicans. So easy.

    http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8785

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WKBQQOX73E4FANNQD22UKYZFQ4 bilbo52398

    Every time I vote, newportres, I have my license ready to show, but they don’t want to see it. That concerns me, because how will they know if I really am the guy that lives at such-and-such address? They only see me once or twice a year, so how can they be certain that I am who I say I am? 

    I do not have a particularly strong opinion either way on the timing of registering to vote, but I do think that requiring ID when voting is a good idea.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YAJZRSHZOYGTLTZOUREIQ7PRFY Mmmm

    “One of the primary arguments made for the repeal of same-day registration is that people who register late don’t care, are lazy or are ill-informed,”No wonder they all registered late.Sounds like most Republicans i know– “don’t care, are lazy (letting ALEC write their legislation for them) or are ill-informed.  Especially my “representative” Amy Volk

  • Anonymous

    Hmm.  If the proposed law had been in effect, these people couldn’t have voted.  Maybe they are trying to tell us something.

  • newportres

    I could ask for the same innocent until proven guilty method of operations while a purchase my next pistol but I’m pretty sure no one on your side would grant it.
    You may also assume I will not grant that level of trust when it comes to protecting my vote.

  • newportres

    Considering that he looked into a case years after it was first reported to a Democrat administration, considering that he did not look in every municiplaity but only a very small portion of the population, considering that records are not kept for historical purposes in many municipalities, and considering the road blocks Democrats have continued to put up on the subject, the fact that he found what he did out of such a small sample shows there is a problem.
    Are you saying that you really consider this a proper investigation so case closed?

  • newportres

    I don’t believe that Republicans are out there saying “they messed with my gun purchase so I’m going to mess with their right to vote” and I don’t believe that you think that either.
    I do believe that you just like lazy one liners.
    The real point here is that I need to show ID for everything, flying, driving, buying cigs or alcohol, etc………
    Why not voting?

  • Regular Joe

    How about instead of embracing the showing of papers for everything you ask WHY should I show my papers for everything?
    I don’t think you should show your ID for buying tobacco and alcohol, to a point.  Policies that dictate that anyone under 45 should show ID is effectively making it so that you need a license to drink.  Same for tobacco.  Driving?  You don’t need ID to drive, you need a license to drive.  We don’t need a license to vote.

  • Anonymous

    “Yes, some, and I say, “some”, of these Republican legislators …”
     
    So is there a  common thread to which sort are your “some” ? 
    Let’s nice cup of tea and talk it. 

    Has it occurred to anyone else that the solution to that kind puppet of a national agenda getting office is not at just at the polls, but at the GOP party level, too ? 

    Why are people who self-identify as representing a different party allowed to run as Republican ?
    Who are really the RINOs ?

  • Anonymous

    So your solution is be what you are against ? 

  • Anonymous

    Because then you really would be as bad as you just think those evil Democrats might be ? 

  • Anonymous

    Because then you really would be as bad as you just think those evil Democrats might be ? 

  • Anonymous

    Because then you really would be as bad as you just think those evil Democrats might be ? 

  • Anonymous

    Because then you really would be as bad as you just think those evil Democrats might be ? 

  • Anonymous

    Because then you really would be as bad as you just think those evil Democrats might be ? 

  • Anonymous

    Because then you really would be as bad as you just think those evil Democrats might be ? 

  • http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

    Are there any municipalities in Maine that use electronic voting machines?

  • http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

    Are there any municipalities in Maine that use electronic voting machines?

  • http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

    Are there any municipalities in Maine that use electronic voting machines?

  • http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

    Are there any municipalities in Maine that use electronic voting machines?

  • http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

    Are there any municipalities in Maine that use electronic voting machines?

  • http://twitter.com/DirigoBlue Gerald Weinand

    Are there any municipalities in Maine that use electronic voting machines?

  • Anonymous

    Nothing that you said seemed “lame” to me. I do find it funny that people automatically assume that requiring an ID at the polls is somehow a violation of their rights. I think requiring an ID is protecting that right by ensuring that some imposter hasnt walked in and voted in your place. While we dont have a problem now (and thats great news) I think the potential for voter fraud certainly still exists. In regard to the disabled or elderly who vote and require special accomidations to get to the polls I say we should have some sort of program in place to ensure their vote is counted. Whether its simply giving free state ID’s to those who qualify and making sure they can hop the LYNX to the polls, we need to do two things in regard to future voting. 1. make sure the election process is protected and 2. that everyone votes who wishes to.

  • Anonymous

    Nothing that you said seemed “lame” to me. I do find it funny that people automatically assume that requiring an ID at the polls is somehow a violation of their rights. I think requiring an ID is protecting that right by ensuring that some imposter hasnt walked in and voted in your place. While we dont have a problem now (and thats great news) I think the potential for voter fraud certainly still exists. In regard to the disabled or elderly who vote and require special accomidations to get to the polls I say we should have some sort of program in place to ensure their vote is counted. Whether its simply giving free state ID’s to those who qualify and making sure they can hop the LYNX to the polls, we need to do two things in regard to future voting. 1. make sure the election process is protected and 2. that everyone votes who wishes to.

  • Anonymous

    Nothing that you said seemed “lame” to me. I do find it funny that people automatically assume that requiring an ID at the polls is somehow a violation of their rights. I think requiring an ID is protecting that right by ensuring that some imposter hasnt walked in and voted in your place. While we dont have a problem now (and thats great news) I think the potential for voter fraud certainly still exists. In regard to the disabled or elderly who vote and require special accomidations to get to the polls I say we should have some sort of program in place to ensure their vote is counted. Whether its simply giving free state ID’s to those who qualify and making sure they can hop the LYNX to the polls, we need to do two things in regard to future voting. 1. make sure the election process is protected and 2. that everyone votes who wishes to.

  • Anonymous

    Nothing that you said seemed “lame” to me. I do find it funny that people automatically assume that requiring an ID at the polls is somehow a violation of their rights. I think requiring an ID is protecting that right by ensuring that some imposter hasnt walked in and voted in your place. While we dont have a problem now (and thats great news) I think the potential for voter fraud certainly still exists. In regard to the disabled or elderly who vote and require special accomidations to get to the polls I say we should have some sort of program in place to ensure their vote is counted. Whether its simply giving free state ID’s to those who qualify and making sure they can hop the LYNX to the polls, we need to do two things in regard to future voting. 1. make sure the election process is protected and 2. that everyone votes who wishes to.

  • Anonymous

    Nothing that you said seemed “lame” to me. I do find it funny that people automatically assume that requiring an ID at the polls is somehow a violation of their rights. I think requiring an ID is protecting that right by ensuring that some imposter hasnt walked in and voted in your place. While we dont have a problem now (and thats great news) I think the potential for voter fraud certainly still exists. In regard to the disabled or elderly who vote and require special accomidations to get to the polls I say we should have some sort of program in place to ensure their vote is counted. Whether its simply giving free state ID’s to those who qualify and making sure they can hop the LYNX to the polls, we need to do two things in regard to future voting. 1. make sure the election process is protected and 2. that everyone votes who wishes to.

  • Anonymous

    Nothing that you said seemed “lame” to me. I do find it funny that people automatically assume that requiring an ID at the polls is somehow a violation of their rights. I think requiring an ID is protecting that right by ensuring that some imposter hasnt walked in and voted in your place. While we dont have a problem now (and thats great news) I think the potential for voter fraud certainly still exists. In regard to the disabled or elderly who vote and require special accomidations to get to the polls I say we should have some sort of program in place to ensure their vote is counted. Whether its simply giving free state ID’s to those who qualify and making sure they can hop the LYNX to the polls, we need to do two things in regard to future voting. 1. make sure the election process is protected and 2. that everyone votes who wishes to.

  • Anonymous

    Don’t know.

  • Anonymous

    Don’t know.

  • Anonymous

    Don’t know.

  • Anonymous

    Don’t know.

  • Anonymous

    Don’t know.

  • Anonymous

    Don’t know.

  • Anonymous

    Abolish

  • newportres

    I didn’t say I was against it in all cases just that the justification for requiring ID may be the same.
    If it is safe to check the ID of americans in many other cases than why not this case?

  • newportres

    We have lost the war when it comes to ID.
    Accept it and move on.
    As for the ID or license to drive, try getting a license these days without some ID to back it.

  • newportres

    I don’t think Democrats are evil I just think that they know not what they do or are blinded by their own good intentions.
    I also don’t believe that good intentions are an acceptable excuse for the damage they cause through their ignorance or failure to accept reality.
    Communism is a beautiful idea in theory and it will work right up until you add people and their greed into the mix.  It is the same with many feel good ideas the democrats put out there.

  • Anonymous

    I completely understand your point, and agree that legislators should be vigilant and investigate any instances of possible voter fraud, when and if they occur. Considering the fact that no voter fraud has been found, someone was obviously doing their job. Where I will fault them is that in this case, legislators tried to change a working program in our voting system, in the name of voter fraud that didn’t exist. These republicans could have investigated the matter privately and not made total fools of themselves. If there were any voter fraud found, that would have been the time to take it to the air waves and make any changes to laws. Instead, these legislators chose to cry wolf, and there wasn’t a single piece of evidence to support their claim, and then they actually had the nerve to criticize the patriotism of the people they found had actually voted legally.

  • Anonymous

    Yes? And your point is? They are saying no one…even they should
    not be allowed to do it. They are changing something that was allowable
    to even them. And the problem with that is? So yes, it is a PHONEY TRY.
    Imagine…someone changing something that they could do to something that
    won’t allow themselves to do it. Don’t you wish the politicians in DC would
    have passed healthcare and made themselves have to use it?

  • Anonymous

    Because why should anyone who doesn’t contribute be deciding how other people’s money is spent? Care to let me at your check book?
    The point is, many of the laws and spending that we vote on is in effect for many years, if not for our whole lives. I just don’t think some college student here for a semester or two should be deciding issues and then leaving us with the consequences and going home. National issues…I don’t care where your from or where you vote, but state issues should be by tax paying residents. Spouses file income tax together, no problem there.

  • Regular Joe

    It is simply not a requirement to pay taxes in order to vote.  There are many people who don’t pay taxes-are we to institute a new application process to prove that we should be allowed to vote in this state?  No.  Or should we not let people vote who are planning to move out of state or out of the town in the next 3-5 years?  No.
    There is no requirement, nor should there be, to pay taxes before one can vote.
    However, now that I think about it, even if a person isn’t working in this state and not paying income tax or if this person doesn’t own property and doesn’t pay property tax, chances are he or she is buying something in this state and therefore state sales tax is being collected from that person.  So, if you want to play this game, then yes, these people are most probably paying taxes here anyway.
    Kids attending school here are living here and are a part of society and should be allowed to make decisions in the town in which they live.  Who knows, they might even stay here.  I know a few that have.  I would think that we would want to be a welcoming state to all, not just big business, and what’s a WORSE way to welcome people and encourage them to stay but to tell them that they aren’t part of the community that depends on them and they won’t ever be until they own property or get a job here.  What a bunch of scrooges.

  • Anonymous

    unlike some folks, i believe ‘less is more’.  why say in a diatribe what you can say in a single sentence?

    alas.  efficiency is under-rated.

    ****

    i lived in Fla for decades, they do ask for ID or mail with your address on it, no big deal.

    as it relates to the this discussion:

    1.  i do not believe in creating laws for laws sake.  i thought the Tea Party was the party of less government?  as someone who is leaning libertarian, i am confused by this flip flop in what is a core belief.

    2.  i do not support abolishing same day registration.  voting is not like cigarettes and beer.  voting is the ‘holy communion’ of democracy.  why fix it if it ain’t broken?

  • Anonymous

    Take a deep breath and relax. We will vote on this issue this Nov and Mainers will support the governor and legislatures.  Yes, I’m glad it’s going to the people, it will  shut the liberals up who have controlled and ruined this state.  See you at the voting station  in Nov.  By the way,  do  you work at your local voting station, I bet not.  Next step, voter ID.

  • Anonymous

    Take a deep breath and relax. We will vote on this issue this Nov and Mainers will support the governor and legislatures.  Yes, I’m glad it’s going to the people, it will  shut the liberals up who have controlled and ruined this state.  See you at the voting station  in Nov.  By the way,  do  you work at your local voting station, I bet not.  Next step, voter ID.

  • Anonymous

    Take a deep breath and relax. We will vote on this issue this Nov and Mainers will support the governor and legislatures.  Yes, I’m glad it’s going to the people, it will  shut the liberals up who have controlled and ruined this state.  See you at the voting station  in Nov.  By the way,  do  you work at your local voting station, I bet not.  Next step, voter ID.

  • Regular Joe

    Dude, I’m quiiiiiiite relaxed.

    I can dig what you mean about having the people vote on it and shutting up the liberals. I’ll feel similarly about the anti-equality people when we win same-sex marriage at the polls in 11/12.
    Lastly, you don’t know me or know anything about my community volunteer work, so keep such snarky and mean-spirited conjecture to yourself and keep to the topic.
    Meanwhile, everybody remember that this law is on hold for this election, so election-day registration IS in effect this November! (Of course, when the new law is rejected, there will be accusations of the liberals bussing in teeming hoards of college students just so that they could vote yes on that question!)

  • Regular Joe

    Dude, I’m quiiiiiiite relaxed.

    I can dig what you mean about having the people vote on it and shutting up the liberals. I’ll feel similarly about the anti-equality people when we win same-sex marriage at the polls in 11/12.
    Lastly, you don’t know me or know anything about my community volunteer work, so keep such snarky and mean-spirited conjecture to yourself and keep to the topic.
    Meanwhile, everybody remember that this law is on hold for this election, so election-day registration IS in effect this November! (Of course, when the new law is rejected, there will be accusations of the liberals bussing in teeming hoards of college students just so that they could vote yes on that question!)

  • Regular Joe

    Dude, I’m quiiiiiiite relaxed.

    I can dig what you mean about having the people vote on it and shutting up the liberals. I’ll feel similarly about the anti-equality people when we win same-sex marriage at the polls in 11/12.
    Lastly, you don’t know me or know anything about my community volunteer work, so keep such snarky and mean-spirited conjecture to yourself and keep to the topic.
    Meanwhile, everybody remember that this law is on hold for this election, so election-day registration IS in effect this November! (Of course, when the new law is rejected, there will be accusations of the liberals bussing in teeming hoards of college students just so that they could vote yes on that question!)

  • newportres

    Showing ID and showing an envelop with your address on it are two different things.  I for one would like some assurance that only citizens of this country are determining the fate of this country.
    As for laws, or the implementation there of, I don’t know of any Tea Party members who advocate for anarchy.  Quite a spin to say that since we want less legislation we therefor must be against all law but I’ve seen you do that dance before.
     
    Without any ID required or anyone checking to make sure people voting actually reside where they vote how could you possibly know it aint broken?
     
    Our system is about checks and balances and as it stands today there are no checks in place to protect my vote and that leaves us without balance.
     
    Not too surprising since any hope for change is gone as well.

  • newportres

    So if someone once drank they may now never point out that abuse of alcohol is wrong and that you shouldn’t do it?
    Former drug addicts can never advocate for better drug laws?
    Etc…….
    What an unusual world you live in.

  • newportres

    So if someone once drank they may now never point out that abuse of alcohol is wrong and that you shouldn’t do it?
    Former drug addicts can never advocate for better drug laws?
    Etc…….
    What an unusual world you live in.

  • newportres

    So if someone once drank they may now never point out that abuse of alcohol is wrong and that you shouldn’t do it?
    Former drug addicts can never advocate for better drug laws?
    Etc…….
    What an unusual world you live in.

  • Regular Joe

    So are you saying that they admit that they did something wrong?

  • Anonymous

    look, i understand your concern over fraud.  but newportres, you know this if you think about it for a minute:

    THERE IS NO SUCH THINGS AS A FOOL PROOF SYSTEM.  there will always be fraud, from Main St. to Wall Street.  do you really think ID can’t be faked? 

    The issue isn’t whether there is fraud  (and so far, no one has found but a single instance in Maine), the issue is whether or not we are going to create legislation that stands as a barrier between the voter and the polls.   200+ years of expanding voters’ rights says we should not limit voting rights.

  • Anonymous

    look, i understand your concern over fraud.  but newportres, you know this if you think about it for a minute:

    THERE IS NO SUCH THINGS AS A FOOL PROOF SYSTEM.  there will always be fraud, from Main St. to Wall Street.  do you really think ID can’t be faked? 

    The issue isn’t whether there is fraud  (and so far, no one has found but a single instance in Maine), the issue is whether or not we are going to create legislation that stands as a barrier between the voter and the polls.   200+ years of expanding voters’ rights says we should not limit voting rights.

  • Anonymous

    are you saying that people who register to vote near or on the election day are comparable to alcoholics?

    there is not a sustainable analogy. 

  • Anonymous

    Joe, this what the Democrats do on election day,  they have poll watchers make sure the poll workers says out loud the person who is wanting to vote give  their name and address and many times they ask the worker, much to the voter’s distress, to say it louder.  Then they check it off from the voter’s list they have.  After a couple of  hours one of their comrades comes to the polling location to relieve the poll watcher.  The poll watcher who just left calls people on the list, that are Dems, and reminds them to vote and offers a ride.  Why don’t you come join us workers on election day.

  • Regular Joe

    Maybe I’ll see you when I’m working at my local polling station, then.
    Hugs!

  • newportres

    If you are willing to throw away the whole concept of showing ID for everything and just admit the system doesn’t protect or stop anything bad from happening then so am I.
    No sense have Driver’s Licenses, people still drive without them.
    No sense requiring ID when someone buys a weapon sense the bad guys still manage to find a way to get one.
    No sense checking ID when people board a plane because we can’t even stop them from crossing our borders.
    Is this what you are saying we should do?
    After all, each of these protective measures in some way restrict the freedoms of those of us who have done nothing wrong and will never do anything wrong.
    That seems like pretty poor logic to me.
    ID should be used to protect my vote and ensure that only I take it.
    ID should be used to ensure (to the best of our ability) that only those people voting in my town are from my town and legal US residents.  It is for this same reason and to prevent the fraud that you claim can not be prevented that we should allow the people we hire to care for our town the time they may need to verify that the people who register are actually from our town.
    Continuing to claim that there is no fraud when you know that no one has ever looked for fraud is lame and you know it.

  • newportres

    Difficult to say a system is not broken if no one ever checks to see if it is working isn’t it?
    After all, with no ID required you have no idea who is really voting do you?
    With no time given to city employees to verify the residence of the person voting you have no way of knowing if the person voting even lives in your town do you?
    Please tell me what protections are in place at this time to protect the vote and show that the system works.
    Lack of violations?
    How can you have violations with no one checking it?

  • newportres

    They ahve the right to vote if they declare they are residents here.  That may include other actions they have to take like registering their vehicle in this state and paying taxes in this state.

  • newportres

    That’s not what I’m saying and you know it.  Just because a system allows you to participate in a certain way and you do, doesn’t mean you can now never suggest improvements to the system.

  • newportres

    If you drive 35 mph in a 35mph zone but you now vote with others in your town to change the speed limit to 25mph becuase you think it might be safer are you admitting to wrong doing on your part?
    Maybe you should be written some retroactive tickets? 

  • Regular Joe

    How do you “declare” that you are a resident here?  By filling out a voter registration card?
    Anyway, I established that paying sales tax is paying a state tax, so it’s a moot point now.

  • Anonymous

    there is no such thing as fraud free.  

    there will always be fraud.  always.  you are fooling yourself into thinking a law will prevent it (in any system, not just voting).

     a certain amount of fraud is inevitable no matter what law is created, so why create it?  voting is sacrosanct.   i think we need to err on the side of  polling access.

  • newportres

    If you fill out a voter registration card and you drive you must also register your vehicle here among other things.
    Are you claiming that anyone who buys a cup of coffee and spends a few nights in a motel in this state should now be allowed to vote?

  • newportres

    LIke I said then, if we are going to give up showing ID as a lost cause then do it in all cases and accept the chaos.
    Otherwise we keep attempting to protect all of our rights from those who would abuse them.
    Justifications are as valid for voter ID and protections, accepting that you can not prevent all fraud but attempting to make the system as secure as you can, as the requirements for ID in all other aspects of our life.
    Any case you make against ID has been tried and failed in all of those other cases.
    Nothing is different here. 

  • Regular Joe

    Filling out a voter registration card has nothing to do with vehicles.
    I am saying that you say that one MUST pay taxes here in Maine.  Outside of requiring that one own property (such as land or a vehicle) or one must be employed in order to vote, one way that people here pay state taxes is by paying state sales tax.  Or are you really saying that only CERTAIN state taxes would qualify someone for voting privileges?
    Not everyone owns taxable property and not everyone is employed.  These ridiculous requirements you are placing on our right to vote are un-American and are un-Constitutional.

ADVERTISEMENT | Grow your business
  1. Glenburn art teacher killed in Friday morning collision in BangorGlenburn art teacher killed in Friday morning collision in Bangor
  2. Accidents involving 7 vehicles tie up Bangor traffic on Interstate 95
  3. Oregon police say mystery woman may have ties to Fort KentOregon police say mystery woman may have ties to Fort Kent
  4. Police say co-sleeping likely a factor in 6-week-old infant’s death in Bath
  5. Rockland woman on trial accused of assaulting woman having affair with her husband

Marketplace Coupons

BDN Blogs

Be a BDN blogger
Browse BDN blogs

Capitol Incite

Items of interest, perspective & analysis on Maine politics, people and policy Rick Bennett says he's not a career politician

Pine Tree Politics

Political intrigue from the state of Maine The untold story of the DADT repeal
ADVERTISEMENT | Grow your business