The Presidential, State, and Annual Local Election has been called for Tuesday, November 3. Maine voters will select their choice for President/Vice President in the popular vote, and elect one of Maine’s two United States Senators, Maine’s Representatives to Congress, members of the Maine Legislature, and certain county officers.
The “popular vote” is used to choose Maine’s four “electors,” who will convene at the Electoral College at the State House on December 14 to cast their electoral votes for the purpose of either electing a new president and vice president, or reelect the incumbents Donald Trump and Mike Pence respectively.
The annual local election is called for to fill two positions on the Town Council and three positions on the School Committee.
Absentee Voting
The Town of Gorham and the Secretary of State’s Office highly recommend absentee voting to help stop the spread of Covid-19 and to keep everyone safe. If you are unable to vote on Election Day or you do not want to stand in long lines due to social distancing, you may vote via an Absentee Ballot. You can apply for an absentee ballot by calling the Town Clerk’s Office at 222-1670 or applying online here.
Please note that ballots will not be received at the Town Clerk’s Office until 30 days before the election. They will be sent out as soon as they are received from the State.
You may request an absentee ballot up until October 29. For your ballot to be counted, the Clerk must receive a voted Absentee Ballot delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day – November 3. Any Absentee Ballots received after this time will not be counted.
You may return your ballot by mail or drop it off in the secured ballot drop box outside of the Municipal Center.
Important Announcement Regarding Polling Places
If you wish to vote in-person on Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To view your assigned polling place by street address, visit gorham-me.org. Please note that polling places have changed and are listed with an * below.
Ward 1-1: No Change – Gorham Middle School (106 Weeks Road)
*Ward 1-2: Great Falls Elementary School (73 Justice Way)
*Ward 2: Gorham High School (41 Morrill Avenue)
Please call the Town Clerk’s Office at (207) 222-1670 if you have any questions about your polling location.
Miscellaneous
Maine has absentee ballots and absentee voting, not “early voting.” Voters are not actually casting their ballots early but rather putting it into a sealed envelope for the election workers to cast on the specified days given by the State. It is up to each town or city to chose which days they want to open ballots based on the number of ballots received.
Maine does not mail out ballots to every registered voter as some states do. A voter has to request an absentee ballot. There are a several groups sending out absentee ballot applications and voter registration cards, such as AARP and the League of Women Voters. Each political party may do the same. They are all legitimate and can be used to apply for a ballot.
Please do not hesitate to call the Town Clerk’s office at 222-1670 with any questions.