We remain convinced that such restrictions ultimately are unconstitutional under the federal constitution and federal voting rights laws. Significantly, we also note that a lawsuit challenging the Maine restriction is still pending in federal court. It is especially disappointing for me personally that this rejection has occurred in my home state, where I once served in the state legislature. Maine citizens take pride in fairness. I am convinced the rejection of the amendment primarily reflects the need for greater public education about the nature of mental illnesses and the people who struggle with them.
Mental illness can happen to anyone.
Denial of rights of citizenship is a denial of individual dignity. People with mental illnesses are members of communities and deserve to feel connected to them. The right to vote is an important connection. Without it, a person's identity may be unreasonably diminished and horizons for recovery cruelly limited. The Maine vote contrasts with NAMI's national campaign in which thousands of people with severe mental illnesses, in states and communities across the country, registered to vote and participated in yesterday's elections.