Op-Ed: Requiring Voter ID Could Increase Trust in Maine Elections
Maine is one of just 15 states which do not require registered voters to provide any sort of identification at polling stations in order to vote on Election Day. This is a bit surprising, given that a 2021 poll from Monmouth University found a supermajority of Americans (80 percent) not only support voter ID laws generally, but believe a photographic ID should be required to vote. This includes 62 percent of Democrats and 87 percent of independents.
Showing an ID to vote is not much different than showing one to purchase alcohol, get on a plane, open a bank account or apply for state welfare benefits. Identification is required for these tasks to ensure an individual is who they say they are, and that they’re allowed by law to engage in the specified activity.
While some fear voter ID laws disenfranchise voters and suppress turnout, experience shows that these concerns are unfounded.
Click here to read Murray’s full op-ed in the Bangor Daily News.