Absentee ballots for the November election and town referendum will be available from the town clerk’s office on Oct. 11.
To request an absentee ballot, voters may call the town clerk’s office at 207-833-5822. They may also vote “absentee in person” at the town clerk’s office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, or 1-6:30 p.m. Thursday.
The town clerk must receive absentee ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day, according to the Maine Department of the Secretary of State. For absentee voting by mail, the U.S. Postal Service advises requesting a ballot no later than 15 days before Election Day and returning a ballot no later than seven days before Election Day.
Voters do not need to have a reason for casting an absentee ballot.
The state ballot features a gubernatorial race among incumbent Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat; former two-term Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican; and Dr. Sam Hunkler, an independent. For the 1st Congressional District, voters will choose between seven-term U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat; and former Navy SEAL Ed Thelander, a Republican.
For Maine Senate District 23, incumbent Sen. Matthea “Mattie” Daughtry, D-Brunswick, faces a challenge from small-business owner Brogan Teel, R-Brunswick. In Maine House District 99, the candidates are Stephen Davis, R-Harpswell, and Cheryl Golek, D-Harpswell.
Races for county commissioner, district attorney, judge of probate, and sheriff have one candidate each.
In a special town referendum, Harpswell voters will consider transfers of $25,000 and $27,000 from surplus for the Harpswell Home Heating Assistance Program and the removal of the emergency communications tower at the Orr’s Island Fire Station, respectively. They will also decide whether to accept a donation of quahog seed from Running Tide Technologies Inc. in support of the town’s efforts to boost its quahog population.
On Election Day, Nov. 8, the polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Harpswell Community School.
