AUGUSTA — Maine would automatically register most adults to vote beginning in 2022 under a top Democrat’s bill.
Lawmakers held a hearing Wednesday on House Speaker Sara Gideon’s bill .
The National Conference of State Legislatures says 17 states have automatic voter registration systems.
The state would add eligible adults to Maine’s central voter registration system when they submit identifying documentation with the motor vehicle bureau. Individuals could opt out.
Gideon said the reform would save time and money while increasing accuracy and security.
The Maine Town and City Clerks’ Association didn’t take a stance but voiced concern over how the state would ensure such data is accurate. The bill allows 16 year-olds to conditionally register to vote and enroll in a party, down from 17 years.
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.