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| April 2017 Edition |
Update from Anna
The legislature is in full swing, and there has never been a better time to get involved. Are you a member of our Rapid Response Team? Sign up today to get full weekly updates on our priority bills and actions to take.
Yesterday, many of you joined us in Augusta to listen to oral arguments on the constitutionality of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). The lawyers defending RCV made many compelling points, and it was a fascinating discussion. The court will release its advisory opinion(s) in the next two weeks, on whether 1. the request constitutes a solemn occasion and 2. if so, whether the RCV law is constitutional. In the meantime, we continue to advocate for the legislature and Secretary of State to move ahead with implementing the citizen-initiated Ranked Choice Voting law. Read more here.
We are continuing to defend Clean Elections and work for other reforms to reduce the power of special interests over our government. LD 300, which would eliminate the gubernatorial program from the Clean Election statute, is still due to come before the full legislature. Have you contacted your legislators yet, and asked them to oppose LD300?
MCCE is also supporting on exciting new bill, LD1232, which would establish Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) in Maine. AVR is a commonsense modernization to our voter registration process. With this system, eligible citizens are automatically registered to vote, unless they decline, when they update their address with a state agency like the DMV. Automatic voter registration safeguards our voter rolls, allows us to maintain more up-to-date voter information, and makes voting more efficient for eligible citizens. We'd love to have you join us at the public hearing for AVR next Tuesday April 18 at 1pm. If you have ever had difficulty staying registered to vote after moving, struggled with same day voter registration, or lived in a place with limited hours for the town clerk, let me know! Your story could help to pass this important bill.
I'm looking forward to seeing you at the Stronger Democracy Volunteer Convention on April 23rd in Waterville. This is going to be a great day, with training, strategizing, networking - and Ben and Jerry's! If you haven't signed up yet, do it today so we know to expect you. You can find more information below.
Thank you for all you do to keep our democracy strong.
Onward!
Anna Kellar
Program Director
Maine Citizens for Clean Elections
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| Contributions to PACs, parties, and Ballot Question Committees that would have been hidden from the public until after the 2016 election if LD1033 had been in effect, total more than: |
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2.5 million
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| CALENDAR |
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April 15: Tax Day April 17: Patriots' Day April 18: Public Hearing on LD1232: Automatic Voter Registration |
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