AUGUSTA (AP) — Legislators are considering bills that supporters say protect election integrity and critics say make voting harder.
One bill would allow those without a photo ID to cast a provisional ballot and have their vote counted if photo ID is presented within five days.
Republican Rep. Brad Farrin said voter IDs for non-drivers would be free and said his bill’s not meant to suppress voting. But he said more states are requiring voter ID and his bill could clear up unintentional fraud.
Democratic Attorney General Janet Mills and ACLU of Maine said Wednesday that the legislation would address nonexistent problems and overwhelm local officials. A 2011 study found no student voter fraud in Maine.
Another bill would require verifying the residency of voters who list a college dorm as their address.
Maine State House is the state capitol of the State of Maine in Augusta, Maine, USA.
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