Your recent editorial on the SAVE Act (March 1) was very well written, thoughtful and intelligent. An act to restrict legal voting certainly does not make sense for we the people. It has a “We the party — let’s win an election” point of view. It is shamefully wrong, but not uncommon, within the partisan election process. I was sorry to see Sen. Collins support it. I hope she changes her mind quickly. It’s wrong and not an election winner.

Now may I respectfully ask the editorial board to broaden its own political horizons?

The paper recently published an op-ed in which I called partisan democracy America’s greatest hypocrisy (“Mainers should lead the nation in election reform,” Dec. 17). The parties, in percentage of voters, are dwindling greatly. Independent voters dwarf them. More important, nearly 90 million Americans did not vote in 2024 and neither presidential candidate got 50% of the vote! So, there is not much trust in the partisan process, is there?

The parties should not own our public election system at any level. And Maine is not leading the nation in election reform — other states have a nonpartisan primary system. Maine still retains its outdated political primary process. Thankfully, its municipal elections, like 85% of the other states, are nonpartisan.

I wish your editorial board would do a much deeper dive into this subject. If the board ever decides to write an editorial about Maine election reform, it might suggest Maine move beyond the partisan election process. “We the people,” and the parties, would be better served.

Joe H. Pickering Jr.
Mainers for Open Elections 
Bangor