Surveys by multiple nonpartisan groups have found that a large number of American citizens (about 21 million) would be unable to vote if proof of citizenship and photo ID was required for the midterm elections, and that that number would include a disproportionate number of lower-income and minority voters.

Those surveys also revealed that, of those voters who are able to provide the necessary documentation, Republicans would be disproportionately favored. To me, this suggests that, if passed in its current form, the bill is likely to make the midterm elections less fair, not more so.

If Republicans feel that the only way to guarantee voting integrity is to require proof of citizenship to register and photo ID when arriving at the polls, I suppose I need to respect their views. What I question, however, is the fast-track timetable they propose for implementing the act, which suggests to me that their primary intent is to skew the outcome of the midterm elections in their favor by disenfranchising millions of legitimate Democrat and independent voters.

To me, that’s merely adding another form of cheating to the voting process. I therefore encourage my fellow Maine voters, Republicans and Democrats, to contact Sen. Susan Collins and insist that any bill that gets passed include provisions for a phased implementation that allows voters from all parties adequate time to obtain the required documents.

Jonathan Hallstrom
Freeport