Volunteers and organizers met in Bangor, Lewiston and Portland during simultaneous events today, signaling the start of a statewide petition drive to repeal a change in Maine law that eliminates Election Day voter registration.

“For 38 years, Mainers have been able to register to vote on Election Day,” said Mark Gray, the campaign manager for Protect Maine Votes. “It’s part of our heritage as a state that values local participation, town meetings and local control. The Legislature should not have taken that basic democratic right away from Mainers.”

“I hear some say, “well if voting is important enough to you, you’ll find the time to register before voting day.” Sure. But, not everyone has the schedule that I have or you have. For example, my good Democratic Senate colleague from Allagash will tell you that he and other Maine loggers that he works with often come straight from the woods to vote on voting day. Their schedule is such that they work long hours, often spending weeks in the woods. And, in more rural areas of the state, town halls are not open five days a week. And, of course, there are others that will be impacted: single parents, families working more than one job—perhaps shift jobs where it’s not so easy to take time off. How about the kid who turns eighteen ON election day?,” said Senate Minority Leader Barry Hobbins.

Signature gatherers will be working around the state this weekend. To place the people’s veto question on the ballot, the campaign must collect 57,277 signatures.

“Voting is fundamental to our democracy and a basic right of every citizen,” said Gray. “Maine’s elections are well-run, efficient and of the highest integrity. Our state has the 3rd highest voter participation rate in the country, only Wisconsin and Minnesota rank higher and in both states citizens have the right to register to vote on Election Day. We should be proud of that achievement instead of trying to undo it.”

On Wednesday, the Maine Secretary of State released the question to petition signers, who are seeking a people’s veto of legislation eliminating Election Day registration. The question reads: “Do you want to reject the section of Chapter 399 of the Public Laws of 2011 that requires new voters to register to vote at least two business days prior to an election?”

“The point is that for thirty eight years Maine has had same-day voter registration. For forty-years there have been no cases of fraud relating to this practice. Town clerks across Maine do not think there are issues or problems relating to same-day voter registration—in fact, no one testified in favor of this law,” said Hobbins.

The paperwork to initiate a people’s veto was submitted on June 21 by Barbara McDade, the president of the League of Women Voters of Maine, and five other signers. The people’s veto seeks to prevent the portion of LD 1376 that eliminates Election Day registration, from taking effect.

The broad coalition of groups working to protect voting rights also announced today the formation of the Protect Maine Votes political action committee

Coalition members include: Engage Maine, the Maine Civil Liberties Union, Maine League of Conservation Voters, League of Women Voters of Maine, Maine AFL-CIO, Maine League of Young Voters, Maine People’s Alliance, Opportunity Maine, Maine Equal Justice Partners, EqualityMaine, Maine Women’s Lobby, Maine Education Association, MSEA-SEIU, Speaking Up for Us, Disability Rights Center, Preble Street Resource Center and Homeless Voices for Justice.