The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Monday, November 7, 2011

Vote No on 1 Tomorrow to Protect Maine's Election Integrity‏

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is the big day – time for us to make a stand for electoral integrity in Maine by voting No on Question 1.

MHPC has laid the facts bare about our electoral system – it’s the least-secure in the nation, and Question 1 will only make it worse. Maine has no photo ID requirement, and no proof of citizenship requirement. If you haven’t already, please check out our study on Maine’s election system by clicking here.

The plain truth is that Maine runs its elections on the honor system, and Election Day Registration is a big part of the problem. Without time to verify the validity of new registrations, there is no way to determine whether a voter is a legal resident of that municipality, or even a U.S. citizen. This is simply unacceptable.

The people pushing Question 1 have pulled out all the stops in this campaign to scare people into supporting this irresponsible measure. MHPC has probed into their claims, and we’ve clearly proven every one of them wrong.

The other side has claimed that eliminating Election-Day Registration will disenfranchise voters. This is completely untrue - voters have 247 days to register each year. They can even register and vote in the same day, by utilizing absentee votes. And the people of Maine can even register and vote without ever leaving their homes by using the US Postal Service. Eliminating Election-Day Registration simply provides a small window for municipal clerks to make sure new registered voters meet current eligibility requirements. Unfortunately, supporters of Question 1 are trying to prevent clerks from making this check.

Here’s the core point – 93% of all U.S. citizens are required to register to vote in advance of election day. States like California, New York, and Massachusetts have pre-registration requirements between 15 and 30 days. A No vote on Question 1 will give Maine voters the same level of ballot security that 93% of all Americans are already afforded.

Maine voters have the right to know their ballots are secure, and a No vote on Question 1 is the first step toward a responsible electoral system. Please make sure to vote No on Question 1 tomorrow, and let your friends know what’s at stake.

Lance,

Lance Dutson
Chief Executive Officer
The Maine Heritage Policy Center