Tuesday, March 21, 2023

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Texas lawmakers consider legislation to prevent cities from self-governance, Connecticut considers policy options to alleviate an eviction crisis, and Ohio residents await community water systems.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis breaks his silence on Trump's potential indictment and attacks Manhattan prosecutors, President Biden vetoes his first bill to protect socially conscious retirement investing, and the Supreme Court hears a case on Native American water rights.

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The 41st state has opted into Medicaid which could be a lifeline for rural hospitals in North Carolina, homelessness barely rose in the past two years but the work required to hold the numbers increased, and destruction of the "Sagebrush Sea" from Oregon to Wyoming is putting protection efforts for an itty-bitty bunny on the map.

ME Outreach Works to Increase Low-Income, Minority Voter Turnout

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Friday, June 3, 2022   

Maine outreach groups are doing their part to increase voter turnout for the June 14 primary election and November general election.

They are focusing some of their effort on low-income and minority communities data indicate are underrepresented in the voting booth.

Anna Kellar, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Maine, said this election cycle is part of a large push to expand a voter-turnout program, which started in 2018.

"Focusing in 10 communities with the lowest voter turnout in 2020, with higher than average poverty rates, lots of renters, people who move frequently," Kellar outlined. "We have information translated into six languages."

The Neighbor to Neighbor program is volunteer-based and nonpartisan. Trained volunteers knock on doors, help people register to vote or request an absentee ballot and answer voting-related questions.

Like other states across the country, Kellar explained the Pine Tree State is still working to build voter confidence in the electoral process.

"Disinformation about election procedures has had an impact," Kellar acknowledged. "We've been hearing election officials have had their work cut out for them, and that in some cases, they've had a harder time securing poll workers."

Kellar added the upcoming June 14 primary has a mixture of both straightforward and contested races, and noted the importance of local races across Maine.

"Several very hotly contested primaries for state Senate and state House, as well as the special election for a state Senate race," Kellar pointed out. "We always try to tell voters that local races, in some cases, are just as important and their vote will be far more impactful."

Kellar emphasized a new "open primary" bill will eventually allow voters not registered as a Democrat or Republican to participate in future primaries, but not in time for the June 14 election. The bill goes into effect in 2024.


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