Sharon Bemis is president of the Election Integrity Network and project manager for the SAVE America Act Coalition. A longtime Maine resident, she served as Embden’s town clerk in 2018.

As the president of the Election Integrity Network and the project manager for the SAVE America Act Coalition, I am proud to offer my heartfelt thanks to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins for her principled support of the SAVE America Act.

In a time when trust in our elections has never been more essential, Sen. Collins has once again demonstrated the steady, common-sense leadership that Maine has long admired. By backing this vital legislation, she is championing two fundamental principles: every lawful vote must count, and only American citizens should decide our elections.

The SAVE America Act is straightforward and fair. It requires proof of U.S. citizenship only when new voters register to vote in federal elections and a photo ID at the polls — protections that millions of Mainers already use every day to board airplanes, receive government benefits, cash checks or purchase certain goods.

Importantly, the act does not require anything of currently registered voters; only new registrants will need to show proof of identity and citizenship. These common-sense safeguards build confidence without burdening eligible voters. By preventing non-citizens from voting, the law protects the integrity of every citizen’s vote, ensuring that lawful voices are not diluted by illegal ballots.

Sen. Collins understands that these measures strengthen democracy for everyone, and her support sends a clear message: Maine’s senior senator stands with the hardworking families, veterans and everyday citizens who simply want elections that are honest, transparent and reserved for those who are legally entitled to participate.

Maine voters have made their voices heard on this issue before. Although a voter-ID measure on last November’s ballot did not prevail, the outcome did not reflect a rejection of secure elections. Far from it. Polling and conversations across our state consistently show that the overwhelming majority of Mainers — Democrats, Republicans and independents alike — support requiring photo identification to vote.

What weighed down the ballot question was not the will of the people, but two unfortunate obstacles: the politically motivated rewriting of the ballot language by a partisan secretary of state and a relentless campaign of disinformation that falsely claimed the measure would harm absentee voting.

The truth is reassuring. The voter ID proposal explicitly protected and preserved absentee voting options for those who need them — seniors, military families, overseas citizens and anyone unable to reach the polls. Yet opponents twisted the facts, sowing confusion instead of clarity. Sen. Collins, by contrast, has cut through the noise with leadership rooted in integrity. She recognizes that secure elections strengthen democracy for everyone, not just one political side.

Maine has always been a place where practical solutions win out over partisan posturing. Sen. Collins embodies that spirit. Her willingness to stand up for voter ID and citizenship verification reflects the values that define our state: fairness, accountability and faith in our neighbors. As the SAVE America Act moves forward, her voice will help ensure that future generations inherit elections they can trust.

I thank Sen. Collins for her courage and clarity. Mainers appreciate leaders who put country and common sense first. With her continued support, we are one step closer to an election system that every citizen can believe in — one ballot, one lawful vote and one more reason to be proud to call Maine home.