I was dismayed to see that many commenters on the Aug. 21 story “Mainers like absentee voting. Question 1 would make that option harder” failed to grasp the story’s main point. That was summarized in its subheading: “The November referendum has been framed around requiring voter ID, but it also includes a host of changes to absentee voting.” These commenters remained fixated on the referendum’s ID requirement, despite numerous other restrictions.

I would like to remind readers that we already have voter ID: we must present identification to register to vote. Question 1 is tricking us into thinking that identification isn’t already a crucial part of our voting process so that we won’t notice its true intent of removing voting rights for many — including any one of us, should we ever become housebound and unable to visit a polling place or ballot box on Election Day. We ought to think carefully before voting on Question 1.

Zoë Lidstrom
Lewiston