Having just read the April 8 op-ed by Sharon Bemis (“Susan Collins has taken a bold stand for secure elections”), I am “deeply concerned” over support of Sen. Susan Collins and the SAVE America Act.  

The SAVE America Act stipulates that only “new” registrants will need proof of citizenship. Both of my children attended four-year colleges out of state where they were not previously registered to vote. My understanding is that a REAL ID/driver’s license does not qualify as proof of citizenship. Providing them with either a birth certificate or a passport to travel across the country to a college dormitory is a bit sketchy in terms of safekeeping. 

So, how are all of our college students out of state (and others in similar situations) going to exercise their right to vote as American citizens in a presidential election?  What qualifies as state proof of residence when in a college dorm room?  

One solution is absentee/mail-in ballots, which must remain available (and count) as valid voting mechanisms for our elections. Having lowered voting age from 21 to 18, our college students and all U.S. citizens deserve to have their voices heard — whether they be Republican, Democrat or independent per the 26th Amendment. And, to date, scant evidence has been offered to suggest that absentee voting causes problems.

Eugenia O’Brien
Portland