Former Republican U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe has joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers and former lawmakers seeking to open Maine’s party primaries to unenrolled voters.
elections
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs Republican voting law that critics call ‘un-American’
In an extraordinary move, DeSantis, widely viewed as a potential presidential candidate, staged his bill-signing live on the Fox & Friends show, with no other media outlets allowed.
Coalition pushes for $115 million in bonds to buy Maine lands, maintain parks
The effort has drawn together groups that include farmland preservationists, fishermen, real estate agents and an economic development organization.
Maine adapted election rules for the pandemic; bills would make changes permanent
Measures call for continuing the use of ballot drop boxes and an absentee ballot tracking tool.
Maine redistricting thrown into confusion by census delay, constitutional Catch-22
The state’s process insulates against gerrymandering, unless one party has supermajority control of the Legislature.
Bills requiring photo ID for Maine voters poised for defeat in Legislature
On a series of party-line votes, 3 bills that would require voters to show photo ID at the polls were rejected by majority Democrats on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee.
Comment period opens for power line referendum question
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows will be accepting public comments regarding the question’s form and content until May 13.
Bill would audit Maine election results as a way to promote voter confidence
The legislation is supported by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who says Maine should join 34 other states and increase transparency in elections.
Bill to lower Maine’s voting age to 16 faces ‘steep hill’
Passage is unlikely, in part because the change requires a constitutional amendment, but advocates contend a debate over lowering the voting age would be beneficial.