New Gloucester’s ballot drop box is once again out in front of Town Hall, and absentee voting is already under way for the March 5 presidential primary.
There may not be much suspense this time, but several new elements are in play. Among significant changes, registered voters not enrolled in a party can now participate. Also, voters who self-identify as disabled or who are age 65 or older can now sign up to receive absentee ballots on an ongoing basis.
What’s the biggest change? That Maine is holding a statewide primary, not caucuses, to determine voters’ preferred Republican and Democratic presidential candidates. Maine will be one of the 15 states (plus a territory) voting on Super Tuesday, March 5.
The caucuses were/are a bit like a town meeting: in-person only, different days and times depending on the town and the political party, raised hands and head counts. By contrast, the March 5 primary will feel very familiar: written ballots, absentee voting and in-person voting all day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the New Gloucester Fire Station, 611 Lewiston Road.
Also new and significant: unenrolled voters (aka ‘independents’) can participate in the primary. In other words, registered voters don’t have to be enrolled in either party to vote on March 5. Unenrolled voters can choose only one primary ballot—Democratic or Republican—not both. If you’re one of Maine’s more than 270,000 unenrolled voters, voting in the primary won’t change your status: you’ll remain unenrolled after you vote.
Voters enrolled in other parties—the Green, Libertarian, No Labels and other parties—may not participate on March 5 unless they first change their enrollment to the Democratic or Republican party or they unenroll altogether.
Changes to party enrollment—by anyone—must happen by Friday, February 16, 2024, for the primary election. Please note, however, that New Gloucester’s Town Office is closed on Fridays.
A voter must remain in their party for three months. You can change your party registration at the Clerk’s Office or online at this link.
Ongoing absentee ballot status. As usual, absentee voting will be an option. What’s new is that voters age 65 or older or voters who self-identify as disabled can request ongoing absentee ballot status. That means they won’t have to request an absentee ballot at each and every election; instead, they will automatically receive their state and local ballots by mail.
The Clerk’s Office has the form to request ongoing absentee ballot status. The form can also be downloaded at this link, printed out, signed and brought to the Clerk’s Office.
Ranked choice voting. Another development: ranked choice voting applies to Maine’s presidential primaries for the first time. Both parties’ ballots include those ranked choice bubbles – ovals, really. In the unlikely event that no candidate receives a majority of votes on March 5, the Secretary of State’s Office will proceed to tabulate voters’ ranked choices.
Maine’s Republican ballot includes candidates who have suspended their campaigns since qualifying. Votes for those candidates will be included and reported by the Secretary of State unless the candidates notify the state that they have formally withdrawn. As of February 5, no such formal notifications had been received, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
— Republican Presidential Primary Sample Ballot
— Democratic Presidential Primary Sample Ballot
Absentee ballots. You can request an absentee ballot at the Clerk’s Office during regular open hours or online from the state at this link. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot without a special approved excuse is the close of business Thursday, February 29. Voters can track their request and absentee ballot online at this link.
A voter can request an absentee ballot but decide to vote in person instead. Records are cross-checked to ensure that voters don’t try to vote twice and that the number of voters matches the number of votes cast.
Completed absentee ballots must be returned to the Clerk’s Office or put in the ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5. Completed ballots should not be brought to the polling place. As for those ballot drop boxes, you can read about the requirements for their security, periodic removal of ballots and more here.
Online voter registration. Also new this year, Maine residents who aren’t registered to vote can now register online, at this link. Maine joins 41 other states in offering online registration, apparently. Residents can also register at the Clerk’s Office or at the polls on March 5 at the Fire Station, 611 Lewiston Road.
Questions? The Clerk’s Office staff have a wealth of experience and can help: 926-4126 x1. In addition, the Secretary of State’s Office has detailed voter information online at its eDemocracy and Elections & Voting pages—everything from how to request an accessible ballot, to details about absentee voting and much more.
Mainers are justly proud of our tradition of strong voter participation. Nail-biter election or not, voting matters. The March presidential primary is right around the corner… and the June 11 election isn’t that far off either.
— Joanne Cole
