A petition drive to repeal new state driver's license rules has failed, with supporters only gathering 24,125 of the 55,000 signatures needed by today's deadline.

The new rules require proof of citizenship and residency when applying for a Maine driver's license. Critics say those requirements put Maine on the path toward complying with the controversial federal Real ID program.

Kathleen McGee, who submitted the petition to repeal the state laws, said that eight out of 10 people asked to sign did so, something she said pointed to the interest in the effort.

"It's not lack of support that keeps us off the ballot," she said at a Portland press conference this morning. "It's lack of time."

McGee said organizers would pursue other ways to block Maine's participation in the program. The signatures gathered were from across the state, she said, and one next step would be to demonstrate that support to legislators and press them to repeal the new rules.