The Maine Idea: Open primaries haven’t worked elsewhere, won’t work in Maine
By Douglas RooksThe Maine Idea
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Two bills currently before the Legislature would allow unenrolled voters to cast ballots in party primary elections – the so-called “open primary” system used, in one form or another, in some 36 states.
One of them, LD 231, has a dynamic sponsor in Sen. Chloe Maxmin, a Democrat who defeated the previous Republican Senate leader to take the Lincoln County seat last year. While similar previous bills have gotten nowhere, this one may have a chance.
The argument for allowing “independent” voters to join a Republican or Democratic primary is that Maine has so many of them – no longer the largest bloc, since the Democrats have again pulled ahead, but second, ahead of the GOP and the Greens.
Commentary: For the People Act takes Maine’s election values nationwide
Voter-friendly policies, like Election Day registration and small-donor matching funds, strengthen democracy.
By Alison SmithSpecial to the Press Herald
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As someone who has spent decades working to empower voters and strengthen democracy, I was thrilled that the For the People Act (H.R. 1/S. 1) passed in the House last week. It’ll make elections across the country more like Maine’s: voter-friendly, inclusive and secure. Many provisions such as Election Day registration, have been used successfully here for decades and are popular all over the state and across the political spectrum.
Maine Ethics Commission says Senate District 14 candidate violated election law, but assesses no penalty
At issue are four electronic signs posted on behalf of William Guerrette, the Republican candidate in the race, and whether they comply with state election laws.
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A lighted sign on Maine Avenue in Farmingdale, seen March 3, encourages passing motorists to vote for Will Guerrette in the Senate District 14 special election next Tuesday.
Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal file
AUGUSTA A Republican state Senate candidate violated the state’s election sign law but will not be assessed a penalty, the Maine Commission on Governmental and Ethics Practices ruled Monday.