2023 LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD
Maine House Maine Senate
ABOUT
Mainers for Modern Elections is a coalition that is committed to ensuring that our right to vote safely transcends politics and partisanship. We advocate for safe, secure, modern elections. Our coalition is committed to securing equitable access to the ballot for every eligible Maine voter.
Ensuring that Mainers can vote safely and securely—especially amidst a global public health crisis—is not a partisan issue. It is a common sense issue, whether you are a Republican, Democrat, Independent or otherwise. Voting is not a privilege, it is a right. Our government leaders have a duty to ensure that every Mainer can vote safely and without added burdens
Members of our coalition
Maine Voting Rights Coalition Releases Legislative Scorecard
More than 100 legislators earn a 100% rating for preserving the freedom to vote.October 3, 2023
As other states work to restrict access to the ballot box, undermine the integrity and accuracy of elections, and weaken democracy, Maine is moving in the opposite direction: more than half of Maine’s legislators earned a 100% score for their work preserving the freedom to vote from Mainers for Modern Elections.
Maine Voting Rights Coalition, Advocates Support Ongoing Absentee Voting
April 26, 2023
Earlier today Mainers for Modern Elections, advocates, and Maine voters testified in support of a bill to expand ongoing absentee voting to all eligible voters.
Maine Voting Rights Coalition Opposes Attempts To Roll Back Freedom To Vote
March 7, 2023
Today, three Maine legislators held a press conference to promote their bills undermining the freedom to vote by creating more barriers to voting in Maine.
Maine Voting Rights Coalition Celebrates Launch of Automatic Voter Registration In Maine
July 20, 2022
This morning Mainers for Modern Elections (MME), a coalition of advocacy groups committed to safe, secure, and modern elections in Maine, joined Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and local leaders to celebrate the long-awaited launch of Maine’s automatic voter registration program.
Democracy Reforms Signed into Law
July 12, 2021
While many states move to restrict voting, Maine protects and expands it
On Friday, Gov. Janet Mills signed the fourth of four democracy reform and modernization bills into law, making permanent policies that were put into place for the 2020 election and taking additional steps to modernize elections in the state. Maine joined 40 other states in allowing eligible Maine residents to register online to vote, and strengthened its absentee voting system so that absentee voting is available to more Mainers going forward. Together, the bills represent crucial updates to Maine’s elections systems and make it easier for all eligible Maine voters to cast a ballot.
Democracy Reform Bills Move Closer to Final Passage
June 16, 2021
End of week update on the voting bills in the Maine legislature
The Maine House and Senate advanced all four of Maine’s democracy reform bills this week, moving the election modernization package closer to final passage. Each bill now moves on to procedural votes in the House and Senate before heading to Gov. Janet Mills for her signature. Together, the bills represent crucial updates to how Maine runs elections, and would make it easier for all eligible Maine voters to cast a ballot.
Maine House Approves Absentee Voting Bills
June 9, 2021
Proposed legislation would improve and modernize absentee process.
The Maine House voted in support of two democracy bills Tuesday aimed at modernizing and improving the state’s absentee voting process. LD 1575 ensures that student IDs can be used for proof of identity when registering to vote, and LD 148 establishes a permanent absentee voting list for disabled voters and those over the age of 65. The bills now head to the Senate for initial approval.
These two bills are the first in a package of four this session that seek to upgrade Maine’s election systems. Legislation to expand the use of ballot dropboxes (LD 1363) and to establish online voter registration (LD 1126) are expected to be voted on in the coming days.
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Committee Hears LD 1575: An Act to Improve Maine’s Election Laws
May 5, 2021
Members of Mainers for Modern Elections testified expressing their full support for the bill.
Several members of Mainers for Modern Elections — a coalition committed to advocating for safe, secure, and modern elections — testified before the joint standing committee on Veteran and Legal Affairs to support the passage of LD 1575: An Act to Improve Maine’s Election Laws.
The proposal would improve voter information, protect the rights of nonpartisan observers, and ensure consistent treatment of student IDs when registering to vote.
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Online Voter Registration Supported by VLA Committee
April 26, 2021
Weeks after Secretary Bellows, Representative Pierce, and advocates share support for online voter registration, OVR approved in 8-5 vote
Mainers for Modern Elections — a new coalition committed to ensuring that our right to vote safely transcends politics and partisanship — applauds the committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs for their majority approval of LD 1126: An Act To Update the Voter Registration Process. Forty states and the District of Columbia have online voter registration (OVR); creating an OVR system in Maine is an important step toward modernizing Maine’s election system and improving efficiency, voter access, and voter security.
The committee vote follows MME’s Democracy Day event, where Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Rep. Teresa Pierce, youth advocate Lilliana Frantz, and labor rights advocate Linda Deane spoke in support of online voter registration.
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Advocates, Secretary Bellows, legislators to speak in support of online voter registration
April 5, 2021
VLA committee holds public hearing on LD 1126 at 10 a.m.
Advocates, lawmakers, and Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows will be speaking in support of legislation to bring online voter registration to Maine at a public hearing before the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee this morning at 10:00 a.m. Online voter registration is an important step in modernizing Maine’s election system and improving efficiency and voter security.
“Voting is not a privilege, it is a right. Our government leaders have a duty to ensure that every Mainer who wants to can register to vote securely and without added burdens,” said Anna Kellar of Mainers for Modern Elections. “Forty other states plus the District of Columbia already have online voter registration; it’s time to bring online voter registration to Maine.”
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