Opposing Sides Testify on Voter ID Initiative that Would Bring Maine into Alignment with Most of America, and Almost All of Europe

Lawmakers on the state legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee held public hearings Friday afternoon on several proposed voter ID laws, all seeking to require photographic identification to cast a ballot.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) both testified, on opposing sides of the key question these bills raised.

One of these bills — LD 1149 — was the product of a citizens initiative petition signed by over 170,000 Mainers.

Led by Dinner Table Action Executive Director Alex Titcomb and Rep. Libby, the effort to get a voter ID question on the ballot was accomplished with minimal funding and hundreds of volunteers, organizers say.

The proposed measure, if enacted, would require voters to present a photographic ID or otherwise prove their identity in order to cast their ballots.

Although the Legislature has repeatedly declined to enact voter ID laws, this initiative allows the people to effectively demand such a law, as voters recently did with the automotive right to repair initiative.

Dinner Table Action submitted 4,410 petition forms were to the Secretary of State’s Office with 171,562 signatures, far exceeding the required 67,682 needed, as well as the 100,000 goal initially set by the Voter ID for ME campaign.

When legislation is introduced through this process, lawmakers typically have the option of either enacting the bill exactly as it was submitted by petitioners or sending the proposal directly to Maine voters for consideration.

Because the Legislature adjourned early this year without taking action on this bill, Mainers can will see this proposal on the ballot this November.

Although Gov. Janet Mills (D) immediately called the Legislature back into session following this adjournment, this does not negate the impact of their early adjournment on this proposal.

If approved, Maine would become the 36th state to implement voter ID requirements, bringing the state into alignment with emerging trends in America and Europe.

Currently, 46 out of 47 European countries require some form of personal identification in order to vote.

While supporters of voter ID laws have argued that it’s a common sense measure, opponents have suggested that it represents a form of voter suppression.

Despite repeated allegations that voter ID would suppress the vote of minority and low-income citizens, a 2019 report from the non-partisan National Bureau of Economic Research (NEBR) argued that these claims are unsubstantiated.

The same report, however, also noted that such requirements were not found to have any impact on fraud, “actual or perceived,” but this has not detracted from Americans’ overwhelming support for voter ID legislation.

According to a February 2024 poll conducted by Pew Research Center, voter ID laws enjoy the support of an overwhelming 81 percent of Americans.

These survey results also highlight the strong bipartisan nature of this support, with 95 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats expressing a desire for photographic identification to be required when casting a ballot.

Under the law that will appear on this November’s ballot, voters would be required to present a valid photo ID, such as a Maine driver’s license, U.S. passport, or military ID, when casting their ballots in person.

Voters without photo identification would be able to cast a challenged or provisional ballot with the caveat that they must provide proper ID within four days post-election for their vote to be counted.

Religious exemptions for those will moral objections to being photographed can be obtained through an affidavit process. Voters with objections to photography must submit an affidavit citing their beliefs and provide the last four digits of their Social Security number for verification.

To minimize financial barriers, the legislation requires the state to issue free nondriver identification cards to eligible residents without a Maine driver’s license.

[RELATED: Dinner Table Delivers — Conservative Group Aims to Put Voter ID on Maine’s Ballot for 2025 Election]

This bill also aims to change Maine’s election laws with respect to absentee voting, including by rolling back certain provisions and by implementing new regulations.

One way that this bill looks to amend the absentee balloting process is by preventing municipalities from having more than one absentee ballot drop box within their jurisdiction, as well as by requiring that a “bipartisan team of election officials” possess the drop box key.

Voters would also be barred from requesting absentee ballots over the phone, something that is currently permissible under state law.

Additionally, should this bill be approved, the statute allowing voters to automatically receive absentee ballots for each election without needed to submit separate requests would be repealed.

This law, if passed, would go into effect on January 1, 2026, providing time for any necessary infrastructure adjustments to made, as well as for the launch of public awareness campaigns to explain the requirement.

Under this timeline, voter ID would be in place for the November 2026 elections, which are expected to be consequential for Maine.

Not only will the gubernatorial election be an open race, but U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) will be seeking re-election. U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D) could also potentially vacate Maine’s Second Congressional District office in order to run for governor, leaving the contest for that seat open as well.

Click Here for More Information on LD 1149

Despite the significant level of support expressed by Mainers for this proposal through the petition process, most of those who turned out to Augusta Friday afternoon to testify spoke in opposition to this bill.

In speaking before the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, many of those advocating that lawmakers reject this proposal raised concerns about the impact these requirements could have on those who are elderly, disabled, and housebound.

Because these individuals are unlikely to have an updated drivers license or may struggle to produce the documentation necessary for the free nondriver identification, they argued that this requirement has the potential to disenfranchise certain populations in Maine.

“The freedom to vote is a fundamental right in our democracy. It should not be more accessible for some citizens than for others,” said a representative of Mainers for Modern Elections.

The representative went on to argue that voting cannot, and should not, be compared to other circumstances in which an ID is required, such as boarding a plane or buying alcohol. He also characterized voter ID provisions as a “redundant, expensive, and needless” additional step in Maine given the existing process.

Another advocate argued that requiring voter ID requirements could disenfranchise transgender individuals due to complications with their names or gender markers, noting that only 30 percent of transgender Mainers have accurate identification.

“We should be so proud,” testified Secretary of State Shenna Bellows later during the public hearing, explaining that Maine is known for running “safe, free, and secure election[s].”

Similarly, there were many who testified Friday that the proposed voter ID law is a “solution searching for a problem.”

One Maine man appeared in person Friday afternoon to testify in support of this bill.

“If the government needs to send someone to you,” he said, referring to the concerns expressed over some people’s ability to obtain an ID, “that’s fine.”

“You can’t do anything without a picture ID. Nothing important can you do without a picture ID,” he added.

“I kind of see some of the arguments on the other side, but it’s just as easy to have voter ID,” he concluded.

Rep. Libby spoke with the Maine Wire about this proposal, highlighting the strong level of support expressed by Mainers for this proposal and explaining what Mainers can expect as this bill moves through the legislative process.

“The Legislature could of course choose to pas this into law. That is within our purview,” Libby said. “And certainly given the fact that we saw such a large number of Maine citizens sign the petition — over 170,000 — the Legislature could choose to pass it as is and make this law.”

“If not, then it will go to Maine people, and they will have the opportunity to vote to make voter ID law here in Maine on November 4th.”

“The Legislature has had opportunity after opportunity the last decade-plus to pass voter ID into law,” she said. “I think Maine people have made it very clear when those bills have been presented that was the will of the people, but the Legislature continued to vote those down.”

When asked what her response is to those who have raised concerns that this law could potentially make it harder for some to vote in Maine, Libby explained that the bill’s purpose is to improve the state’s election integrity.

“Every aspect of this bill is intended to strengthen Maine elections, ensure accountability, and make sure that there is transparency and that Maine people can know absolutely that their voice matters and that their vote is counted,” said Libby.

Rep. Laurel Libby speaks with the Maine Wire on the latest regarding the effort to implement voter ID laws in Maine: pic.twitter.com/nVRDgrNUDl

— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) May 4, 2025

The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee will now continue to consider this bill before eventually reporting out their recommendations to the full Legislature.

Note: This story was updated on May 9, 2025 to accurately reflect the potential path forward for LD 1149. Because the Legislature adjourned early without taking action on this bill, the proposal will now be placed on the ballot this November.