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Maine High Court Upholds Wording of Voter ID Ballot Question

Maine High Court Upholds Wording of Voter ID Ballot Question

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is upholding a lower court decision allowing the wording of a ballot question about voter ID to remain in place.

Backers of the photo voter ID requirement claimed Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ proposed wording was confusing and misleading to voters.

The question’s wording includes proposed restrictions on absentee voting, which is part of the ballot initiative, as well as the voter ID requirement.

It reads, “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting and make other changes to our elections?”

The Supreme Judicial Court is backing a a superior court decision to allow the wording, saying Secretary Bellows question “is understandable to a reasonable voter reading the question for the first time and will not mislead a reasonable voter who understands the proposed legislation into voting contrary to that voter’s wishes.”

The measure will be on November’s ballot in Maine.

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