It is unfortunate that Sen. Collins has taken to misleading Mainers by omitting critical aspects of the SAVE Act. Building on this deception in a recent op-ed, Collins backer Sharon Bemis characterized Collins’ stance as an example of “steady, common-sense leadership.” It is neither.

In an hour-long speech, Sen. Collins’ closest Senate friend, Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, explained, the SAVE Act is filled with administrative burdens that would keep many from voting. 

It’s not just that typical forms of identification wouldn’t be accepted, although that is a problem and not just in Alaska. In Maine, 343,610 women don’t have birth certificates with the same name they’re currently using. Passports would work for registration, but just 46.1% of Mainers have one.

As Murkowski noted, the SAVE Act limits where people could register to vote to several geographically scattered state facilities that close before the end of the workday. Gone would be online voter registration and voter registration drives. If voters moved, they’d need to find citizenship documents to re-register. Complying with the law would be expensive for citizens and states.

In November of 2025, Mainers rejected limits on absentee voting and an ID requirement. But the bill, per Murkowski, “sets a new default rule for federal elections of in-person voting” so very few could vote absentee. Meanwhile the Election Assistance Commission would create new rules that could add more hurdles to trying to vote. This is federal overreach.

Collins should be more honest about the SAVE Act and should reject it. 

Amy Fried
Bangor