Legislation ending same-day voter registration in Maine may come up for a vote today, and if it does and is passed, a Portland legislator said he will offer an amendment that would allow cities such as Portland to opt out.
Rep. Ben Chipman, I-Portland, said he remains opposed to LD 1376, a bill eliminating “registration of new voters on election day and during the two business days before election day.” The bill was voted out of committee last month and now faces a vote by the full Maine House of Representatives.
“I’m doing everything I can to try and stop the bill from being passed, but I thought a back-up plan would be to have an amendment written,” Chipman said Tuesday.
“I have the amendment already drafted and being distributed,” he said.
“I’m only going to offer it if the House votes in favor of LD 1376,” he explained.
The amendment would allow a local opt-out of the new law, meaning the city clerk of Portland and clerks in other communities in Maine could decide whether to allow voter registration within two days or on the day of an election.
“I think a number of cities and towns would opt out and would continue to register people on election day,” Chipman said.
Full Article: If same-day voting ends in Maine, legislator hopes to add opt-out clause | Portland Daily Sun.