After ample debate in Parliament, Greece, the cradle of democracy, introduced in 2024 a well-thought-out system of mail-in ballots for Greek citizens abroad including the many resident in the U.S. It includes a Greek Government online portal, and, in the U.S., assistance and encouragement to vote from the Greek Embassy and Consulates in New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is designed to serve all citizens and make it easy for them to vote.

As a new resident of Rockland, after 23 years in diplomacy and education in Greece, I am appalled to find Mainers considering regressive Question 1 on the ballot.

In contrast to Greece, its passage would shrink our democracy, eliminate voting for seniors and disabled voters, cut out the critical last two days of voting, and further reduce the number of voting boxes, as well as making,  “other changes to our elections” too numerous to list here.

Voters beware before further degrading our bedraggled democracy and vote NO.   

Richard Jackson lives in Rockland