This year, eight referendums are being called into question on Nov 7. Residents all across Maine will be casting their votes to implement or rescind citizen initiatives and constitutional amendments.
Orono needs community members to serve on Election Day. Staff will be provided with both training and compensation for any hours contributed to election efforts. People of all ages are encouraged to contact Shelly Crosby, the Orono town clerk, via email at scrosby@orono.org.
Registration:
In order to register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age. However, pre-registration is an option for adolescents who are 16 and older, assuming they have a fixed principal home in Maine. You can fill out a registration card at your Town or City Hall. It is possible to print the form and fill it out beforehand.
There is no cut-off date to which registration is no longer possible. Maine is one of 20 states that allow not only same-day registration but registration at the polls a matter of minutes before you vote. The process is streamlined and simplified so that once you complete that step, you can immediately cast your ballot and be officially registered as a Maine voter indefinitely.
What to bring:
License/form of identification and proof of residency. If you choose to register in Orono, you can use your MaineCard for identification. Additionally, you can show registration volunteers any kind of receipt (online delivery order, bill, etc.), bank statement or paystub that shows your address and name.
If you are a first-time voter, worry not, as there will be several volunteers throughout the entire day to help guide you through the process.
Absentee Ballots:
Absentee ballots provide registered voters with the option of doing so by mail rather than in person on Election Day. In many states across the U.S., it is by request and required that the voter in question fall under a specific margin or provide the government with reasoning as to why they cannot do so in person. However, Maine law does not have any parameters to be an absentee voter besides registration in this state.
Absentee voter registration:
It is possible to apply for an absentee ballot via telephone at 207-866-255 or electronically. At maine.gov, you will find an application with a brief set of questions regarding both personal and contact information as well as which address of yours the ballot should be mailed to.
This process can be completed beginning three months prior to election day but must be sent in at least three days beforehand unless there are distinct, preventative circumstances. Examples of such include but are not limited to, incapacitation or illness. Remember that you should submit it soon enough to ensure ample time for the ballot to be sent to your residence.
The specific deadline to request a ballot from your town hall clerk is 5 p.m. on the final Thursday leading up to election day. The 2023 Referendum Election Day falls on a Tuesday, meaning it absolutely must be appealed for by no later than the evening of Nov. 2.
Where to go:
Town of Orono
This year, the polls will be held at the Collins Center for the Arts, which is on the UMaine campus. The address is 2 Flagstaff Rd, Orono, ME 04473, and there is parking access. Everyone can fill out their ballot anytime between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
City of Bangor
Cross Insurance Center: 515 Main Street, Bangor, 04401
Town of Old Town
Elks Lodge: 37th Fourth Street, Old Town, 04468
Town of Hampden
Municipal Building Community Room: 106 Western Avenue, Hampden, 04444
Town of Milford
Milford Town Hall: 62 Davenport Street, Milford, 04461
Town of Bradley
Bradley Volunteer Fire Department: 171 Main Street, Bradley, 04411
Town of Veazie
Council Chambers at the Municipal Building: 1084 Main Street, Veazie, 04401
Town of Eddington
Eddington Municipal Building: 906 Main Road, Eddington, 04428
If your polling location is not listed above, visit this website.
Why you should vote:
It is imperative that everyone exercises their right to vote and voices their say in the decisions that will affect the entirety of our state. It is not mandatory to be highly educated in politics.
All that is necessary within this referendum election is to read over the questions and take the opportunity to research some of the language if aspects of it are not expressed clearly enough. Please stay tuned for an informational series on referendums.
