An Act Requiring Photographic Identification for Voting
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0038
Sponsors: TIMBERLAKE
Amends: 21-A MRSA §671

Legislative Document
No. 38
S.P. 61
In Senate, January 8, 2025
An Act Requiring Photographic Identification for Voting
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on January 6, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin.
Cosponsored by Senators: FARRIN of Somerset, LIBBY of Cumberland, STEWART of 
Aroostook, Representative: LYMAN of Livermore Falls.
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; photograph identification.  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.
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.  21-A MRSA §671, as amended by PL 2021, c. 750, §9 and affected by 
§14, is further amended by enacting at the end a new paragraph to read:
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.
Sec. 4.  Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.
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 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.