I agree with Peter Blake (letter, May 7) and Catherine Ferrell (May 14) about people’s concerns with the popular vote. Actually, it is not that popular — it doesn’t really count. The nation’s forefathers created a government “by the people, for the people.” I pay taxes, so my vote should count. Elected representatives should work […]
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Posted inMaine
Lawmakers get first look at moving Maine back to presidential primaries
AUGUSTA – Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee got their first look at a bill that would move Maine back to a statewide presidential primary vote. The bill, LD 1673, sponsored by Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, has received broad bipartisan support in its tentative form, including from Republican Gov. Paul LePage. The […]
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Posted inMaine
Bill seeks to limit video recording at Maine polling places
AUGUSTA — State lawmakers are contemplating a bill that would limit the use of video recording at Maine polling places, after complaints a group that was recording those signing ballot petitions may have been intimidating voters in 2015. “This law is about ensuring that polling places can serve their most crucial function, which is to […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Androscoggin charter amendment doesn’t deserve public’s support
Under the 2012 Androscoggin County Charter, voted on and approved by the citizens of the county, the county Budget Committee must approve the commissioners’ salary and benefits. The process outlined in the charter prevents the obvious conflict of interest in having commissioners set their own salary and benefits. In the last cycle, the Budget Committee […]
Posted inMaine
Group wants voters to change Maine’s voting system in 2016
LEWISTON — A group that hopes to ask voters statewide to change the way Maine votes in 2016 will begin its campaign in earnest later this month. Ranked Choice Voting Maine wants Maine to become the first state in the U.S. to fully use a ranked-choice ballot system for its elections and has gathered the […]
Posted inMaine
Brakey seeks to lower age for Legislative service
AUGUSTA — A state lawmaker from Auburn is hoping to lower the minimum age for candidates wanting to serve in the Maine Legislature. State Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, offered a bill Monday that would ask voters statewide if they want to lower the minimum age for State House candidates to 18 for the House of […]
Posted inLetters
G. Kimber: No more ‘spoiler’ campaigns
The current, outdated, winner-take-all electoral system is designed around two-candidate races. But the fact is, here in Maine, there are often third-party and independent candidates on the ballot as well. A voting system is needed that reflects this reality. Ranked-choice voting, which will be on the ballot in 2016, would allow voters to indicate their […]
Posted inLetters
L. Jensen: Photo ID won’t hurt voting access
This is in response to Norman Smith’s letter (Jan. 28) in which he referenced voter ID laws and Patti Gagne’s letter (Jan. 24). As a candidate for the Legislature, on Election Day I stood at The Green Ladle for a while with Gagne, greeting voters from Ward 6. We welcomed many individuals to the polling […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Ranked-choice voting advocates gather signatures
AUGUSTA — Residents hoping to get a ranked-choice voting initiative on the ballot are making their final push to collect signatures. More than 100 volunteers will be working to gather as many as 6,000 signatures across Maine on Saturday and Sunday. The group has collected more than 55,000 signatures so far and needs just more […]
Posted inLetters
N. Jewell: Vote is never wasted
Angus King’s message about the value of a vote is rather shocking in view of his usually thoughtful public pronouncements (BDN story printed in the Sun Journal Nov. 4). He basically said your vote will be wasted if you merely vote for someone you think is the most qualified candidate. Instead, you should consult the […]