Early in-person absentee voting is underway throughout Maine in races for the U.S. Home of Representatives, Blaine Home, State Home, and native councils and faculties boards.
Up to now, Democrats are requesting six out of each 10 absentee ballots – a a lot greater fee than Republicans, lots of whom oppose absentee voting and usually tend to vote on Election Day, Nov. 8.
“Maine voters have many handy choices for casting their poll: In individual absentee at their city or metropolis corridor, at dwelling at their comfort, or in individual on Election Day,” Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who oversees elections, mentioned in an announcement.
“Whichever possibility works finest for them, voters have the safety of understanding their vote will rely,” Bellows continued. “Maine runs safe and accessible elections, and we’re excited to see so many citizens already engaged and voting 4 weeks forward of Election Day.”
Though the following presidential election is 2 years away, there are many high-profile races for voters to think about. And the winners of these races shall be setting coverage for years to come back, together with taxes, workforce improvement and well being care, together with girls’s entry to abortion.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is being challenged by former two-term Republican Paul LePage, who’s in search of a 3rd time period. And all 186 seats within the Legislature – 35 seats within the Senate and 151 within the Home – are up for grabs.
Whereas Republicans nationally have criticized absentee voting, LePage’s marketing campaign alerted his supporters in regards to the begin of early in-person voting, imploring them to “make a plan to vote.” The social media publish takes supporters to his web site, which lists details about acquiring absentee ballots.
Each of Maine’s seats within the U.S. Home of Representatives are also up for reelection.
Democratic Rep. Jared Golden is locked in a carefully watched reelection rematch in opposition to former Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin within the extra conservative 2nd Congressional District. And Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree is being challenged by political newcomer, Republican Ed Thelander, a former Navy SEAL, within the extra liberal 1st Congressional District.
Up to now, Democrats are embracing absentee and early voting excess of their Republican counterparts.
As of Tuesday afternoon, registered Democrats made up 59 p.c of the practically 85,000 absentee poll requests, adopted by unenrolled voters, who made up about 20 p.c. Republicans made up about 16 p.c.
These percentages, in the event that they maintain by means of Election Day, would mark the most important share of absentee poll requests from Democrats.
They usually additionally would recommend that the criticism and skepticism about early and absentee voting sown through the 2020 presidential election have firmly taken root with Republicans.
In 2020, Democrats accounted for 46.7 p.c of the 532,272 absentee ballots issued, whereas Republicans accounted for practically 24 p.c. That’s simply shy of unenrolled voters, who accounted for practically 26 p.c.
Absentee voting accelerated through the pandemic. Earlier than that, solely 196,710 absentee ballots had been requested for the 2018 gubernatorial elections, with Democrats accounting for 43 p.c, Republicans at 28 p.c and unenrolled voters at 25.7 p.c.
Absentee ballots could also be requested right here.
Early in-person voting will proceed by means of Nov. 3.
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