In my humble opinion, Secretary of State Bellows is attempting to manipulate the outcome of the voter ID referendum. Bellows is trying to make you believe voter ID is going to end the use of the absentee ballots.
This is all misinformation. The only change to absentee ballots is there will be a paper trail to ensure they are from registered voters and not just some non-existing person. They will need to pay for their own postage, sign their application, submit a copy of an ID and submit it two days earlier. This is not a burden for any legally registered voter.
Shame on Bellows for trying to manipulate you by feeding you misinformation and trying to make you think asking for an ID to vote will end absentee ballots.
This only shows how desperate she is. She has no respect for the Constitution. This was shown by her trying to remove a legal candidate from the presidential election. But when the U.S. Justice Department wants to investigate voter fraud, she tells them to jump in the Gulf of Maine. I’ll agree with Bellows that the Constitution leaves running elections to the states. However, the U.S. Justice Department has the right to investigate fraud of any kind, including election fraud.
The discovery of hundreds of election ballots inside an Amazon package? People want to believe that their votes count, but when ballots are misplaced, misdelivered or mishandled, trust disappears. Without trust, the entire system is at risk.
This November, we can take a simple step toward restoring that confidence: voter ID. We show ID to board a plane, to cash a check, even to pick up a package. Why should the most sacred act in our democracy, casting a ballot, be held to a lower standard?
Election integrity is about protecting the voice of every Mainer.
Showing an ID to vote will help eliminate some of the fraud. Why would Bellows be against this? Vote yes on Question 1 this November. Early voting starts Oct. 6.
Larry Hamilton
Amity
