Action 81 – Stop the REAL Steal!

Mar 30

Background: As we have explained previously (Action 54), Republicans have a long-standing “hate on” voting. Because when more people vote, they lose. The SAVE act was designed to suppress voting. That’s increasingly understood to be its purpose, meaning that the SAVE act might not pass (keep calling Rep. Golden, though!) So, in his latest move to control and “win” the elections in 2026 and 2028, Trump is reaching for his Sharpie and an Executive Order. The Order would:

· prohibit the counting of votes received by mail after election day, disenfranchising military, older, and rural voters. (Of course. this is after Trump has thrown the US Postal Service into turmoil, possibly making mail delivery sketchy.)

· require that voters PROVE citizenship, with a passport or a certified birth certificate with the voter’s current name, disenfranchising millions of women, as well as people who do not hold passports, which are now expensive and time consuming to get.

· charge DOGE and the Department of Homeland Security to review (by subpoena) STATE voter registration lists for compliance with (yet-to-be-announced) federal rules.

· direct the Election Assistance Commission to de-certify all voting equipment that it previously certified, change to new certification standards (not yet developed) and re-do certifications within 180 days. This “could include well over 90% of voting systems”. (Would new equipment be required? Who’s gonna pay for it?)

“The Constitution is clear that only states and Congress have the authority to determine election rules. This order should be challenged in court and promptly struck down.” But lawsuits take time, and appeals take even longer. Plus, as you may have heard, some major law firms have disgracefully “caved” in cowardly submission to Trump. They have agreed to do huge amounts of “pro bono” work on behalf of Trump’s priorities. Will they be set to work to subvert the Constitution and make this debacle a reality?

Action: Raise a ruckus!

1) Diane Russell suggests calling newspaper editors, radio and TV stations, and ask them to cover the story. Hundreds of thousands of Mainers would be affected. Here are Diane’s contacts:

TV News Desk Phone Numbers and Emails

WGME 13: (207) 797-9099 tvmail@wgme.com

WCSH 6/ WABI TV: (207) 828-6666 (ask for News Desk) newscenter@wcsh6.com newsdirector@wcsh6.com

WMTW: 800-CH8-NEWS (800-248-6397) , wmtw@wmtw.com

Dailies

BDN: Chief News Editor: lputnam@bangordailynews.com Night Editor (after 5 PM) eandrews@bangordailynews.com

Press Herald: Staff Directory: https://www.pressherald.com/staff-directory/

Lewiston Sun Journal: Ben Bragdon, Managing Editor bragdon@metln.org or
Steve Collins, Political Reporter scollins@sunjournal.com

2) If you use social media, post about this. Plenty of talking points in the extra credit section!

Extra Credit:

> https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/preserving-and-protecting-the-integrity-of-american-elections/

>https://mainemorningstar.com/briefs/maine-secretary-of-state-concerned-over-trumps-order-to-overhaul-elections/