AUGUSTA

A bill to encourage greater voter participation won an initial test Tuesday in the Senate.

The Senate voted 24-11 largely along party lines to allow Mainers to vote on whether or not the state should expand early voting.

“We should all be in support of any action that allows people greater access to vote,” said Majority Leader Seth Goodall, D-Richmond. “But even if you aren’t, let the people of Maine decide. Put it to the voters.”

The bill proposes to change the Maine Constitution to allow for early voting in the days prior to an election.

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do in this body to make it easy enough for people to vote,” said Sen. Stan Gerzofsky, D-Brunswick. “The more we can do to encourage Maine voters to vote, the better off as a state we will always be.”

Advocates say clerks would not have to process so many absentee ballots on Election Day if early voting were allowed. Critics worry about the potential for fraud and double voting.

“Allowing the people to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy. And last year’s change to the voting law attempted to dry up the vote,” Gerzofsky said. “Maine needs to continue leading the nation and allow the people of Maine to decide.”

The measure goes to the House for further consideration.