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An Act To Require Photographic Identification in Order To Register To Vote
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  the subject of this legislation is about elections and the next possible statewide election could be before the end of the legislative session; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §112, sub-§1, ¶C  is enacted to read:
 
C.  To prove residence to the registrar, a person must show photographic proof of identification. For the purpose of this paragraph, photographic proof of identification is limited to an unexpired and otherwise valid driver's license, a state identification card issued by any state of the United States or its territories or the District of Columbia showing a photograph, a United States passport or a United States military identification card.
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §152, sub-§1, ¶M,  as enacted by PL 2003, c. 407, §8, is amended to read:
 
M.  A place for the person's current, valid Maine driver's license number, if applicable;, or, if the applicant has no driver's license number, the last 4 digits of the person's social security number, if applicable; or, if the applicant has neither number, a place to put "none" or "not applicable"a place for the registrar to indicate photographic identification was presented as described in section 112, subsection 1, paragraph C; and
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the voting requirements to add the requirement of having a valid photographic identification card in order to register to vote.