Polling locations have opened throughout the state and voters who waited for in particular person voting are casting ballots for on every little thing from the statewide governor’s race to native races and spending proposals.
Communities in southern Maine open their polls at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m., relying in town. Polls shut statewide at 8 p.m. and statewide and southern Maine outcomes might be posted at pressherald.com because the votes are counted. At 7 a.m. on the Merrill Auditorium in Portland, ward clerk Tuck O’Brien opened the door for one more 10 voters.
Simply down the block on Myrtle Road, a voter pulled her automobile as much as the curb and received out to return her absentee poll within the Portland Metropolis Corridor drop field.
Polls have been simply opening throughout the state, however the visitors right here began early. O’Brien stated 75 folks had lined up by 6:45 a.m.
“Turnout has been very brisk already,” he stated.
In Cape Elizabeth, early turnout was very heavy with all the 40 voting cubicles crammed and greater than 25 folks in line ready to get ballots.
City clerk Deborah Lane stated 3700 of the cities 8800 registered voters had already solid absentee ballots earlier than Tuesday. She stated she expects that by the top of the day, about 5800 voters will solid ballots.
Along with races for political places of work, voters are being requested whether or not they wish to spend $116 million for brand spanking new elementary and center colleges and for a renovation of the city highschool.
Individuals vote minutes after the polls opened at Woodfords Membership on Tuesday. Brianna Soukup/Employees Photographer
A complete of 251,788 Mainers took out absentee ballots and 224,674 of them submitted ballots as of Monday afternoon. Voters who’ve absentee ballots can nonetheless submit them at their city places of work or in a safe poll drop containers earlier than 8 p.m. tonight. Or, they’ll maintain onto the poll and simply vote in particular person as a substitute.
For extra details about voting in Maine, go to the Secretary of State’s voter info web page.
Tuesday’s election ranges from the statewide governor’s race to native choose boards, faculty boards and poll questions.
Incumbent Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, is operating for re-election in opposition to former two-term Republican Gov. Paul LePage and impartial Sam Hunkler, a retired Beals doctor and political newcomer. Ranked-choice voting is not going to be used on this election.
U.S Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, is searching for her eighth two-year time period representing Congressional District 1 and operating in opposition to Republican Ed Thelander, a former Navy Seal and political newcomer.
Within the northern half of the state, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, is searching for reelection within the 2nd Congressional District and going through challenges from Republican Bruce Poliquin, who was unseated by Golden in 2018 within the nation’s first ranked-choice election for Congress, and impartial Tiffany Bond.
All 186 seats within the Legislature are also up for grabs Tuesday. Democrats presently management each chambers, with 22 of 35 seats within the Senate and 76 of the 151 seats within the Home. The social gathering that controls the Legislature will set the coverage agenda and select constitutional places of work, together with the Legal professional Normal and the Secretary of State, who oversees state elections.
Voters have a number of native points to resolve as nicely, particularly in Portland, the place 13 separate referendum measures are on the poll together with faculty board and Metropolis Council candidates.
Portland voters will resolve 5 citizen initiatives, starting from additional proscribing short-term leases to growing the minimal wage to $18 an hour and eliminating the subminimum wage for staff who earn ideas. Portlanders additionally will take into account making sweeping modifications to their metropolis authorities by amending its constitution. Proposed amendments embrace switching from a council-manager authorities to a powerful mayor, and permitting the varsity board to draft and ship its funds on to the voters with out first searching for council approval.
Voters in Cape Elizabeth and within the Cumberland-North Yarmouth faculty district are additionally voting on contentious faculty renovation tasks.
Cape Elizabeth voters are being requested to borrow $116 million to design, construct and equip new elementary and center colleges and to renovate Cape Elizabeth Excessive College.
And voters in Cumberland and North Yarmouth are being requested to borrow $73.9 million to buy land and construct a brand new, prekindergarten by second grade faculty. The bond would additionally embrace cash to renovate the Mabel I. Wilson College.
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