An Act to Require a Person to Show Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0034
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: POULIOT, MORRIS, TIMBERLAKE
Amends: 21-A MRSA §671

Legislative Document
No. 34
S.P. 26
In Senate, December 30, 2022
An Act to Require a Person to Show Photographic Identification for 
the Purpose of Voting
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec.
Cosponsored by Representative MORRIS of Turner and
Senator: TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  21-A MRSA §671, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2019, c. 371, §20, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Name announced.  A voter who wishes to vote must present proof of identity in 
the form of a photograph identification document and state the voter's name and residence 
address to an election clerk, who shall announce the name in a loud, clear voice.  If the 
voter's stated residence address is different from the residence address listed on the 
incoming voting list, the voter must be directed to complete an updated voter registration 
application before voting.  For purposes of this section, "photograph identification 
document" means a current and valid driver's license or nondriver identification card issued 
in this State, a United States passport, a military identification or a permit to carry a 
concealed handgun issued under Title 25, chapter 252 if that permit includes a photograph.  
"Photograph identification document" does not include an identification issued by a college 
or university in this State. 
Sec. 2.  21-A MRSA §671, sub-§9 is enacted to read:
9.  Special voter photograph identification card.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, a 
voter who wishes to vote and who does not possess a photograph identification document 
may request from the Secretary of State a special voter photograph identification card, 
which must be issued free of charge and is valid for voter identification under this section.  
The Secretary of State shall establish procedures through rulemaking for the issuance of 
special voter photograph identification cards under this subsection.  Rules adopted pursuant 
to this subsection are routine technical rules under Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 3.  Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2024.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the presentation of proof of identity in the form of a photograph 
identification document when voting in person.  Acceptable forms of photograph 
identification are a current and valid driver's license or nondriver identification card issued 
in this State, a United States passport, a military identification or a permit to carry a 
concealed handgun issued in this State if that permit includes a photograph.  An 
identification issued by a college or university in this State may not be accepted for voter 
identification.  The bill also allows a person who does not possess a photograph 
identification document to request a free special voter photograph identification card from 
the Secretary of State.