In presidential election year 2000, I ran for my fourth and last term in the Maine House representing Farmington and Industry. I won over a 2000 graduate of University of Maine Farmington (by 300 votes). I had been winning by 1,000 votes on average. My opponent had a great deal of help from local Democrats and that’s just politics.

Fast forward to 2004. Private vans were apparently used to bus UMF students. No problem there. And, any political signs were removed from buses within 250 feet of the Community Center according to Brandon Maher, Democratic political affairs director for a UMF student group. Then, a supposed raffle surfaced for discussion; but Maher has no idea about that. Must be one of those factoids.

I sponsored a bill in 2001 to end same-day registration. The Secretary of State’s office fought the bill, which died in the Democratic Legislature.

There were 709 same-day registrations in Farmington this year, most being UMF students. Let’s hope some local issue doesn’t come up before next May concerning the town of Farmington. The lobbying could be intense. It has happened before. Property ownership should count for something.

Same-day registration is too much of a hassle, especially in college towns. A one-week cutoff date before the election would solve the problem.

Legislators should end same-day registration.

Walter R. Gooley, Farmington

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