Once again, Sen. Collins is siding with her party rather than taking a courageous stance on behalf of her constituents.  

Collins has expressed her support for the SAVE Act, which would make voting much more difficult for thousands of Mainers, but stated she’s not in favor of eliminating the Senate filibuster, a prerequisite for it to pass in the Senate. Her “voting gymnastics” are exhausting and contribute to the lack of trust in our political system.   

The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship to vote, although the current federal voter registration form asks people to swear, under penalty of perjury, that they’re U.S. citizens and are eligible to vote. In addition, a driver’s license, state ID or Social Security number are already required. Approximately 50% of Americans don’t have a passport, millions lack a birth certificate that aligns with a married name and the Real ID issued in most states doesn’t indicate citizenship status.  

States would also be required to conduct frequent purges of voter rolls and would need to share detailed voter information with the Department of Homeland Security. 

The SAVE Act would impose criminal penalties on election workers who register a voter without required documents. 

One of the most significant threats to our political system is voter apathy. Voting schemes like SAVE contribute to the public’s mistrust of our system and to the resulting lack of participation that’s counter to a healthy democracy.  

Mary Ann Larson
Bangor