On June 12 all Gorham voters will have an opportunity to approve the F19 School Department budget and to vote on retaining ranked-choice voting for federal and primary elections as permitted by the Maine constitution. Voters registered as Democrats and Republicans will also choose candidates for governor.
The amount of the FY 19 School Department budget request will not be determined until the Town Council votes on June 5. The question on whether to approve or reject this budget will be the only item on the local ballot.
Only those voters who are registered as Democrats or Republicans will receive primary ballots. Gorham residents may register to vote on Election Day and can chose a political party at that time. Voters who are currently registered as un-enrolled may also enroll in a party on Election Day. However, registered voters may not change parties at that time to vote in the primary. They must have changed party affiliation before May 25. Neither the Green Independent Party nor the Libertarian Party are holding primary elections.
Republican and Democrat primary voters will use ranked-choice voting to select candidates for governor. Ranked-choice voting is only used when there are three or more candidates for an office. Four gubernatorial candidates are on the Republican ballot; seven Democrats are running for governor. Although there are three Democrats candidates running for Cumberland County probate judge and for District 2 attorney general, ranked-choice voting will not be used for these contests because they do not qualify under state law.
All voters will receive a state referendum ballot with one question. Ballot Question 1: People’s Veto reads, “Do you want to reject the parts of a new law that would delay the use of ranked-choice voting in the election of candidates for any state or federal office until 2022, and then retain the method only if the constitution is amended by December 1, 2021, to allow ranked-choice voting for candidates in state elections?”
Maine voters voted for ranked-choice voting in a citizen’s initiative in 2016, but in the last legislative session, Maine legislators passed a law that would delay implementation after the June 12 election.
A yes vote on Question 1 means that a voter wants to keep ranked-choice voting for primary elections for state and federal officials, as well as for general elections of U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators. It would not apply to general elections for governor or the state legislature. A no vote means that the voter wants to delay all ranked-choice voting until 2022, and only wants it to go into effect in 2022 if there is a constitutional amendment permitting it before then.
Voters in Ward 1-1 will vote at the Gorham Middle School. Ward 1-2 voters vote at the Little Falls Activity Center. Voters in Ward 2 vote at the Municipal Building.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 12. Absentee ballots may be requested at the Town Clerk’s Office until June 7, and completed ballots must be received by June 12.
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