Dear John, The votes are in and Mainers resoundingly defeated Question 1, a ballot initiative that would have severely limited the freedom to vote in Maine by putting new barriers in place, including a strict voter ID requirement.
This is a huge win for Maine and for all us who believe that every eligible voter should be able to participate in our democracy.
This victory is especially meaningful because in the past, when voter ID laws have been on the ballot, they almost always win. In the last 13 years, every time a voter ID law has been before voters, it has passed. Yesterday, Maine showed that voting restrictions are not inevitable and that voters do care about protecting the freedom to vote. |
This victory is also important for VoteRiders. We began doing advocacy work only a year ago (in addition to our ongoing work educating and helping voters directly). VoteRiders played an important role in the coalition that worked to defeat this ballot initiative by providing data about who would be impacted, and sharing stories from voters who would lose their freedom to vote. This is a victory for Maine and for voters around the country who refuse to be silenced. VoteRiders will continue our focus on eliminating ID barriers to voting across the country, supporting communities by providing critical information on ID requirements and their harms, and offering direct support for any eligible voter who needs ID documents to make their voices heard.
We know that voter ID initiatives will be on the ballot again in 2026 in other states, and VoteRiders will be ready to defend the freedom to vote. You can ensure we are strong and ready to fight back with a contribution today. |
