This is in response to the editorial of Feb. 17 regarding proposed legislation LD 199, which would require voters to present a valid Maine photo identification at the polls.

Primarily, I wish to address the fallacy that Maine can require identification at the polls and “make it fair” for the voter. It can’t. There will most certainly be people who are disenfranchised by the additional burden of proving their identity.

The needless requirement will make it more difficult for the poor, the homeless, the elderly, students and those with disabilities to accomplish one of their most basic freedoms and civic responsibilities — voting.

Why do we want to prevent voting?

I also want to address the fact that LD 199 is a distraction from the real and pressing problems on which I expect Maine legislators to focus. There isn’t a real problem with voter fraud in Maine; however, there are the real problems of job loss, budget shortfalls, closing the education gap and upgrading aging infrastructure and housing stock.

I am pleased that at least one representative, Mike Carey of Lewiston, understands that there are real problems to solve. He is standing firmly against LD 199 and I commend that stance.

Legislators cannot allow themselves to be distracted from the real issues at hand. The proposed legislation is little more than an expensive exercise in curtailing democracy for those with the least political capital. LD 199 is costly and pointless.

Marianne Bratton-Davies, Lewiston