Maine’s absentee voting on pace to surpass 2018 total

With per week to go earlier than Election Day, about 16 p.c of the Maine voters already has voted.

As of Monday, municipal clerks had acquired and accepted 144,578 absentee ballots, or 16 p.c of Maine’s 904,674 registered voters, in line with the Maine Secretary of State’s Workplace. In 2018, the final gubernatorial election, Maine voters solid a complete of 188,533 absentee ballots.

The state is on tempo to surpass that quantity this election, in line with state officers. The variety of absentee ballots requested on this election – 211,359 up to now, with ballots accessible upon request by Thursday – is already 7 p.c larger than the entire 2018 requests.

If 2018’s 96 p.c return charge holds, Maine ought to anticipate to see greater than 200,000 absentee votes solid on this election. That would imply as a lot as 23 p.c of Maine’s voters would decide to skip Election Day traces and solid an absentee poll as an alternative.

“No excuse absentee voting is a good choice for many individuals, whether or not they’re busy and wish the pliability it supplies, whether or not they want the privateness of voting at dwelling, or whether or not they’re enthusiastic and need to solid their vote as quickly as potential,” Secretary of State Shenna Bellows stated.

The excessive absentee voter turnout may enhance Maine Democrats. Virtually a 3rd of these requesting ballots have been registered Democrats, in line with state information. By comparability, unenrolled voters accounted for 19 p.c and Republicans accounted for 18 p.c.

Maine has what it calls a “no-excuse” absentee voting legislation, which implies that any Maine voter can select to vote absentee, whether or not in individual at their municipal workplace constructing or at dwelling, for any cause. Absentee ballots may be requested at municipal workplaces by Thursday.

Maine voters can also go to the secretary of state’s web site by 5 p.m. Thursday to request an absentee poll. After Nov. 3, below particular circumstances, like a hospitalization, a voter should still vote absentee.

Absentee ballots may be returned to the municipal clerk in individual or by mail no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day or put in a safe municipal voter drop field, if one is offered. If utilizing mail, voters can use the secretary of state’s web site to ensure the poll arrives in time.

These attempting to vote absentee by mail who see their vote has not been “counted” as of 6 p.m. on Election Day are inspired to go to their municipal polling place to solid a standard poll, state officers stated. Election officers is not going to rely the absentee poll ought to it flip up within the final mail of the day.

The stakes are excessive. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is being challenged by former two-term Republican Paul LePage, who’s looking for a 3rd time period, and impartial Sam Hunkler. 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 concerning the begin of early in-person voting, imploring them to “make a plan to vote.” The social media submit takes supporters to his web site, which tells them find out how to acquire 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 towards former Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin within the 2nd District. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree is being challenged by Republican Ed Thelander, a former Navy SEAL, within the 1st District.

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