I was surprised, more like shocked, to see Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows testifying on Capitol Hill in support of bill H.R. 1, the “For the People Act of 2021 (“Strengthening American Democracy,” U. S. House Administration Committee, Feb. 25).”

In her prepared testimony, Secretary Bellows pointed to the “best practices” in Maine, but then expressed the need in Maine for “automatic voter registration, online voter registration, risk limiting election audits, and modernization of our central voter registration system (“Testimony In Support of H.R. 1. For the People Act,” Feb. 25).”

Secretary Bellows made reference to our voting rights under the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, but that same U.S. Constitution gives the right and authority of determining “The Times, Places, and Manner of holding Elections …” to the states. It would appear that the voting provisions of H.R.1 are unconstitutional.

The Maine Legislature is considering two bills: LD 208, “An Act To Expand Access to Absentee Ballots,” and LD 580, “RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Regarding Early Voting.”

While there may be a need for these measures in some cases, anything that expands voting access makes fraud easier but, more importantly, denies citizens the value of in-person voting. I waited in line for an hour, at night, in the cold, to go in to vote and I reveled in it because of the experience of participating with my community in our most cherished right as citizens of this great nation.

Robert Casimiro, Bridgton

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