AUGUSTA, Maine — After years of crying “voter fraud” every time a Mainer casts a ballot they don’t like, Republican operatives have finally found real voter registration misconduct — by looking in the mirror.

The conservative PAC Common Sense for Maine has been ordered to cease and desist after mailing out illegal, prefilled voter registration cards that automatically checked “Republican” for unsuspecting voters.

“You can’t make this stuff up,” said Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson. “They’ve spent years pushing conspiracy theories about fake voters, and now they’re literally sending out illegal, prefilled registration cards. The hypocrisy would be funny if it weren’t an attack on democracy.”

The Secretary of State’s  office confirmed that this is the first time a group in Maine has been caught prefilling party affiliation on registration cards — a direct violation of state law.

“While right-wing operatives waste time trying to trick new voters into enrolling with their political party, Maine Democrats are doing the real work of defending our democracy and Mainers’ right to vote: knocking on doors,  talking to voters, and organizing to defeat Republican-backed Question 1,” said MDP Chair Charlie Dingman. “If that  ballot question were approved this November 4, it would make it harder for seniors, rural Mainers, and people with disabilities to vote.  Maine Democrats stand for full, fair, secure access to the ballot for all who are eligible to vote. Our current laws provide that.  We don’t understand why any party that believes in its own values and priorities would try to limit the number of eligible folks who actually get to vote, but that’s what Question 1 would do.”

To get involved in protecting voting rights and holding Republicans accountable, visit mainedems.org/protectabsentee.

###