Rep. Ann Fredericks (R-Sanford), Rep. Lucas Lanigan (R-Sanford), and Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York), submitted a formal letter Saturday objecting to the consolidation of Sanford’s three polling locations into one.
“There have been numerous studies that show consolidating polling locations disenfranchises voters,” the Sanford Republicans said in the letter.
Harrington announced their official letter of opposition on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The letter comes after the proposal to consolidate the city’s three wards and polling locations into one was discussed at a Sanford city council meeting on November 8th, just one day after a very close election in the city.
The letter is addressed to Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who previously served as a Democrat state senator.
The consolidation would replace the existing polling locations with one located at Veteran’s Memorial Gymnasium at 678 Maine Street, Sanford.
Harrington, along with Rep. Fredricks and Rep. Lanigan, agree with many of the city’s residents who appeared to oppose the measure.
The letter opposes the consolidation on the grounds that the new polling location will not be able to accommodate the volume of voters, nor will it be able to provide for the needs of disabled or elderly voters.
In addition to disenfranchising voters, the proposal has potential to disproportionately effect Republicans, who typically vote in person in greater numbers than Democrats.
We need to get rid of mail-in voting and all absentee ballots except military and proven disabled that cannot get to the polls, and open more polling places with paper ballots, NOT fewer!