Hard to believe it’s only been a year since the last election (it feels more like 5), but here we are again. Today’s vote in my neck of the woods in Maine is much more limited: only two questions on the ballot, neither one of which are particularly difficult decisions for me. Then again, just because they seem straightforward to me doesn’t mean the results are going to line up with what I’d like. Still, I thought I’d post my opinions, because that’s kind of what I do.
First question: “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”
How I’m voting: No. In a heartbeat. There have been 0 credible studies or cases that I’ve read that indicate our elections aren’t secure. This laundry list of proposed changes all seem designed to make voting more difficult. I’ve read the arguments in favor of the proposal, but they come across as a bunch of hand waving and hysteria building. (There was even an effort to “prove” Maine ballots had been “accidentally” delivered in someone’s Amazon box earlier in the year, in an apparent attempt to show how easy it is for our elections to run awry. They still haven’t released findings on what happened there, though Amazon was clear that whatever it was happened after the boxes had left their hands. In other words, someone swiped the ballots and then planted them in an Amazon box. Whatever. Until someone shows me some sort of a real need for a law like this other than “BUT WHAT IF”, I’m going to vote against it.)
Second question: Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?
How I’m voting: Yes. Again, in a heartbeat. My stance on the Second Amendment hasn’t changed. I’d like there to be more restrictions on guns. If someone’s been shown to be a danger to themselves or others? Why in the world would we want them to continue to have access to a gun? In this situation, we’ve seen plenty of examples of actual harm happening, and this is at least an attempt to change that.
With all that said, I also wanted to add: I know there are strong feelings around pretty much every issue that touches on politics these days. I encourage people to resist the urge to believe that anyone who disagrees with them is [evil/idiotic/narrow-minded/fill in the blank]. Demonizing anyone will not be productive. It only makes people want to dig in further on whatever issue is in question, and it encourages more tribalism, where suddenly people are arguing for or against things they wouldn’t normally want, just because “their side” is under attack.
Regardless of how you’re going to vote on these items (or other ones in whatever state you reside), please do go out and vote. Become as well-informed about the issues as you can be. Make up your own mind, and then make your voice heard. If you happen to live in Farmington, do note that the voting site has changed this year while the community center is under construction. Instead of going there, you need to head out to the old Family Dollar on Wilton Road.