How to Vote No on Question 1

On November 3rd, the ballots will be tallied. Our research shows that the anti-equality side are more motivated to vote than pro-equality side. It is essential that every NO on 1 voter comes out by November 3rd, preferably early, and bring as many NO on 1 voters with them. Here is the information you need to know about voting.

Voting on Election Day | Registering to Vote | Students and Military | Absentee and Early Voting

Voting on Election Day

Where do I go to vote?

Every town and city has its own places where people vote. You can call your town office or city hall to find out where you vote, or use the online Voter Information Lookup service at http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookuppollingplace.php . Voting places open between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., depending on the size of the town. Local officials can give you the exact opening time for your community. All polling places close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Can I have help voting?

Yes. If you need help reading or marking the ballot, you may ask a relative or friend for assistance. The helper does not have to be a voter or old enough to vote. An election official can also help you read or mark a ballot. However, your employer or union official cannot help you vote.

Do I need to go to the polls on Election Day to vote?

No. Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person at the polling place. You do not need to have a specific reason or be unable to vote at the polls on Election Day to use an absentee ballot. Call your town or city clerk for an application and assistance.

How do I locate and contact my municipal clerk?

You can find contact information for your town office or city hall on Maine.gov at http://www.maine.gov/local/.

You may also contact:
Office of the Secretary of State
Division of Elections
101 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0101
(207)624-7650
CEC.Elections@maine.gov
http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/

Registering to Vote

Who can register and vote in Maine?

To register, you must be a United States citizen, at least 17 years of age, and live in Maine.

To vote in the November 3, 2009 General Election, you must be registered in the community where you reside, and be at least 18 years of age.

Where do I go to register?

You can register to vote at your town office or city hall, through any Motor Vehicle branch office, in most state & federal social service agencies, or at voter registration drives. Completed voter registration cards may be hand delivered or mailed to your town office or city hall, or sent to the Secretary of State’s Office in Augusta.

Is there a deadline for registering?

No. It’s never too late to register to vote in Maine. You can register to vote until, and including, Election Day. There is no cut-off date for registering to vote in person at your town office or city hall. If you want to register to vote by mail, the cut-off date is the close of business on the 21st day before the election. That date is October 13, 2009 for the General Election.

Special Groups

Are there special residency requirements for students, military personnel, incarcerated persons, and citizens living outside the United States?

Students:

Students have the right to register in the municipality where they attend school, if they have established residency there. Students must meet the same residency requirements as all other potential voters, but may not be asked to meet any additional requirements.

Students who are not residents of the municipality in which they attend school cannot register in that municipality. Students must determine where they have established residency and register to vote there. If residency is determined to be in another municipality or state, absentee voting is possible and encouraged.

The following items should be kept in mind when determining residency for a college student:

• A person does not gain or lose a residence solely because of the person's presence or absence while a student in any institution of learning. This may not be construed to prevent a student at any institution of learning from qualifying as a voter in the municipality where the student resides while attending that institution [Title 21-A, §112.7]
• When registering students, the registrar must make the determination of residency as he or she would for any potential voter.
• A student may have only one residence at any one time.
• If a student has established residency in another municipality or State for any reason, and if the circumstances have not changed, the other jurisdiction may be the legal residence where the student should be registered to vote.

Military Personnel:

A person does not gain or lose a residence solely because of the person's presence or absence while employed in the Armed Forces of the United States or of this State [Title 21-A, §112.7 and Article II, Section 1 of the Maine Constitution].

A member of the Armed Forces may register or enroll at any time by completing and filing the federal postcard application form or the Maine voter registration form, or by registering in person using a form provided by the registrar.

A spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty may have the same voting residence as that person's spouse.

A member of the Armed Forces shall not be considered as having obtained an established residence, however, by being stationed in any garrison, barrack or military place, in any city, town or plantation [Article II, Section 1 of the Maine Constitution].

Absentee Voting

What is absentee voting and how does it work?

Absentee voting allows you to cast a ballot without going to a polling location on Election Day.

Who may vote absentee?

Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person at a polling location on Election Day. You don’t need to have a specific reason or be unable to vote at the polls on Election Day to receive an absentee ballot.

When can I request an absentee ballot?

Absentee ballots may be requested beginning 3 months before Election Day. Make your request early to allow enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you.

How do I apply for and receive an absentee ballot?

There are many ways to request an absentee ballot. Ballots must be requested from the municipal clerk where you are registered to vote.

You can make a telephone request for your own ballot, which will be mailed to the address you provide to the clerk.

Some municipalities allow you to request your own ballot by email. To see if the municipality where you are registered to vote will allow this, check out the following website: http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_absenteeform.html

You can make a written request by completing an absentee ballot application. Additionally, you can obtain a ballot for an immediate family member in this same way. A ballot will be mailed to the voter directly or to an immediate family member making the request. Your municipal clerk can tell you who is considered an immediate family member under the law.

NOTE: Ballots obtained by the voter or an immediate family member do not require witnesses, unless the voter receives assistance from another person in reading or marking the ballot.

Applications are available from the municipal clerk or online at: http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_absenteeform.html

Can I vote by absentee ballot in person somewhere?

Yes. You may vote absentee at the clerk’s office as soon as absentee ballots are available. Absentee ballots are available 30 to 45 days before the election at the municipal clerk’s office. You don’t need to complete an application if you vote in person at the clerk’s office.

When must my voted ballot be returned to my municipal clerk?

To be counted, voted absentee ballots must be received by the municipal clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Are there any other ways to receive an absentee ballot?

You may make a written request for a “third person” someone other than the voter or the voter’s immediate family member) to obtain and hand-deliver an absentee ballot.

You must designate, in a written request or application, the specific third person who will handle and deliver the ballot. Only this designated third person may handle the absentee ballot.

Ballots cast in this way must be witnessed by either a notary public, a municipal clerk, a clerk of courts, or 2 other witnesses.