On March 3, voters will head to the polls to weigh in on the Presidential Primary, if registered as a Democrat or Republican, and a State referendum. A previously planned local Town Council election was canceled after the Town Council voted to seat Janet Kuech.
On the State ballot, Question 1, a people’s veto referendum, seeks to reject a law passed by the Maine Legislature that eliminated most exemptions from state child vaccination requirements, including religious exemptions.
A “yes” vote will repeal the law which was designed to eliminate religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccination requirements for K-12 and college students and employees of healthcare facilities, and reinstate the law allowing for religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccination requirements.
A “no” will uphold the law which was designed to eliminate religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccination requirements for students to attend schools and colleges and for employees of healthcare facilities.
Absentee ballots can be requested until 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 27. After that date, all votes must be cast at the polls. Absentee ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
The last day to change from party to party to be able to vote in the March primary was February 14. You must be a registered Democrat or Republican to get a primary ballot.
If you are unenrolled, you will not get a primary ballot. However, if you are unenrolled, you can enroll in a party up to and including Election Day and vote in that party on Election Day. You must stay in that party for three months before changing again.
If you are new to Gorham, you can register up until Election Day at the Town Clerk’s office and on Election Day at the polls. When registering to vote at the polls, you must have a photo ID proving identity and something with your Gorham address on it proving residency.
Residents living in Ward 1-1 vote at the Gorham Middle School; Ward 1-2 residents vote at Little Falls Activity Center; and Ward 2 residents vote at the Municipal Center. Ward boundaries can be found on the Town of Gorham website. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For any voting or ballot questions, contact the Town Clerk’s office at 222-1670.