Your vote is your voice. Make sure your voice is heard November 3rd by voting.
Voting is at the foundation of our democracy and voting may determine the future of your community, our state and our nation.
Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills.
I usually vote in person on Election Day, I certainly like to see people at the polls, but of course this year, I voted absentee in person in the town clerk’s office. I wanted to minimize the number of people that I came into contact with on Election Day and minimize the number of people at the polls on November 3rd to make sure that people stay safe and healthy. Voting absentee, either in-person or by mail, during this pandemic has minimized people’s exposure to COVID-19 and I believe will protect the health of poll workers, and other voters and the community at large.
Already more than half a million people in Maine have voted absentee. And now, this week, it’s more important than ever before to be cautious, to take all kinds of safety and health precautions. Even though we’re one of the best states in the country for addressing COVID-19, our numbers are higher than ever before, and we’ve got to minimize this. We’ve got to stay safe.
So, if you have already requested an absentee ballot, you have committed to vote that ballot. The clerk won’t give you a second ballot unless you have somehow spoiled the ballot and you return it, or the ballot you requested does not arrive or has not arrived by now.
You can also track when your absentee ballot is sent out to you and when your clerk receives it by visiting Maine.gov/sos and clicking on the “Request/Track your absentee ballot” image.
Get your ballot back to your municipal clerk as soon as possible if you’ve got an absentee ballot, and no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, 2020, in the signed, sealed envelope. That’s very important.
You can still vote absentee or have a family member go pick you up a ballot Monday or Tuesday if you have an excuse or if you feel ill or incapacitated or find you’re going to be absent from the area.
You know be sure again to SIGN the envelope with your absentee ballot before you return it. That’s how the clerk knows it’s the same ballot they sent to you. If you don’t sign the envelop, your ballot won’t be counted.
If you are returning your ballot in person, you can drop it off at your town office during regular business hours on Monday, but we also provided secure drop boxes to many many towns to facilitate safe voting.
If your town has a ballot dropbox, you’ll find it at the city hall or town hall. Drop off your completed ballot - sealed in the signed envelope - at any hour up to 8 pm November 3rd, and of course ONLY in your own town or city’s ballot dropbox. You have to sign the envelope so the clerk knows it was you who requested the ballot; but neither the clerk nor anyone else will see who you voted for.
Polling places will be open on Election Day, but if you go to the polling place on Election Day, plan for extra time because of new health and safety procedures at the polls, social distancing (six foot distancing) and sanitization measures etc.
And please wear a face covering when you go to the polls to vote and avoid face coverings or other clothing or accessories that have some political message or the name of a candidate on them cause that would be illegal.
To learn more about elections, visit the Secretary of State’s website at Maine.gov/sos.
You know, there’s also been a little bit of talk also about potential harassment or intimidation of voters in other states. We don’t expect a problem with that here in Maine and we do have plenty of tools to address it if it does occur.
Just remember, you have a constitutional right to vote. No one can prevent you. It’s your civic right and your civic responsibility.
This is Governor Janet Mills, thank you for listening, don’t forget to vote, and please stay safe.