Bangor to allow voting early
10/23/09 | 16 comments

Bangor to allow voting early


By Eric Russell
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO
Five people cast their votes. The ballots are sealed and stored until Election Day. Bangor is one of a handful of Maine cities that is able to offer this choice to voters who are registered in the city. (BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY GABOR DEGRE) CAPTION Voters to take advantage of the in person absentee voting at the Bangor Civic Center Monday. The votes can be cast through the week at the (Bangor Daily News/Gabor Degre)

BANGOR, Maine — The city will participate in another early-voting pilot project beginning Monday, Oct. 26, through Monday, Nov. 2, at the Bangor Civic Center.

In addition to the seven referendum questions on the statewide ballot, residents will vote on three open City Council seats and two School Committee posts.

Bangor voters will also tackle two local referendum questions seeking amendments to the city charter.

One would reduce the number of signatures candidates for City Council would need to collect to get on the ballot from a minimum of 150 to 100.

The other would change the way City Council candidates are listed on the ballot. Instead of being listed alphabetically as they are now, the candidates would appear on the ballot in the order drawn by lot by the city clerk.

City Clerk Patti Dubois said this year’s election is likely to generate significantly more interest than the usual off-year election, simply because of the issues at stake, which include same-sex marriage and changes in tax policy.

“We’re anticipating about 50 percent turnout,” she said, which would equate to more than 11,000 Bangor voters.

In addition to Bangor, early voting will take place in Augusta, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Hallowell, Saco, Scarborough and Standish through the pilot project offered by the Maine Secretary of State’s Office.

“These nine communities who are operating early voting this year have really stepped up to the plate, crafting their own plans for carrying out this initiative,” Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said. “If it’s as well received in these locations as it was in an earlier and more limited pilot, early voting could become available as an option for municipalities statewide, as another way to accommodate the busy schedules of the voting public.”

The difference between early voting and in-person absentee voting is that with early voting voters cast their ballots exactly as they would on Election Day and the ballots are processed immediately. With in-person absentee voting, the ballots are sealed until Election Day.

Bangor was one of only three communities that participated in a similar early-voting pilot project during the November 2007 election, and Dubois said she would like to make the option a permanent fixture.

Dunlap said that’s exactly why the state decided to expand its pilot program.

“It’s a great way for us to get some feedback,” he said, “It’s the opinions of the voters that truly matter — not just in deciding the outcome of the elections, but in this case, in how those elections will be carried out, now and in the future.”

Earlier this year, Bangor city councilors voted to consolidate from four polling places to one. All voting now takes place at the Bangor Civic Center. Dubois said having one polling place allows the city to address any problems in a much more timely fashion and will modestly reduce Election Day costs, mostly by decreasing the number of polling workers needed.

Bangor’s early voting begins on Monday and will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, Oct. 30. On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Civic Center will be open from 8 a.m. to noon. As with every other election, traditional absentee ballots are available on request through the Bangor city clerk’s office, by calling 992-4200.

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Comments
16 comments on this item
On 10/23/09 at 7:57 AM, greenlady61 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I have been using the absentee ballot for a few years now for every election including the presidential. Not only is it more convienient, but there is less chance of tampering, unlike using the infamous voting machines. I would encourage all to do so and leave others hands off your vote.

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On 10/23/09 at 9:55 AM, pjramsay wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I have never heard of voter tampering in Bangor or the State of Maine. Early voting should be a statewide event - it works well in Bangor.

As far as the local referendums, reducing the petition numbers seem valid. The random drawing for name placement on the ballot for city council seems a bit self-service. After all, it was Councilor Wheeler (up for election in 2010) that floated this idea. He seems to think that most voters in Bangor just pick the first three names on the list.

Since all who run for council are at-large candidates, an alphabetical listing seems appropriate. Just because your name starts with a W is no reason to change the rules.

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On 10/23/09 at 12:08 PM, limlib wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

PROTECT THE CHILDREN OF MAINE........VOTE YES.......ON QUESTION ONE

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On 10/23/09 at 12:39 PM, JoeDoe wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Folks, if they publicize the results of the early votes. DO NOT be swayed to not vote based on the results.

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On 10/23/09 at 12:40 PM, MaineSurvivor2 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Excellent news for Mainers who care for family values! Vote "YES" on Question 1.

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On 10/23/09 at 12:41 PM, BlueAmbience wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Protect them from what?? Demons? Sub humans? Evil Gay Aliens. Mainers will protect children by allowing their parents to marry in True Equality. Stronger families make a stronger Maine. VOTE NO on QUESTION 1!!!!!!

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On 10/23/09 at 12:52 PM, pjramsay wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

JoeDoe - early voting results are not published. I would love to see voting mandatory. I would also love to see early voting nationwide.

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On 10/23/09 at 1:34 PM, LethbridgeStewart wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Blueambience, I believe they want protection from nonchristian influences. Like science.

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On 10/23/09 at 1:34 PM, ConvivialVisits wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Vote early, and vote NO on 1!

Make future generations of Mainers proud that we again took a stand for fairness and equality, just as we did over 100 years ago when we led the nation in interracial marriage rights!

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On 10/23/09 at 1:39 PM, tedlick wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Protect ALL children of Maine and their families! Vote NO on 1: keep the bigots from stopping Maine's effort to do the right thing.

Excellent news for Mainers who care for family values! Vote "NO" on Question 1!

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On 10/23/09 at 1:48 PM, sptrout wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

YES ON 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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On 10/23/09 at 1:49 PM, tedlick wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Vote NO on 1. It's the right thing to do for ALL Mainers and their families.

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On 10/23/09 at 2:02 PM, tedlick wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

sptrout,

Up until now I hadn't heard such a rational reason for voting, sptrout-- but with 19 exclamation points, it's obvious that you've thought this through far more than someone who only uses 15 exclamation points.

But I'm still voting NO on 1: it's the right thing to do.

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On 10/23/09 at 2:02 PM, tedlick wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"Beware of false moralists, which post here in self-righteous clothing, but inwardly they are ravening bigots. Ye shall know them by their CAPS LOCK."

Tedlick 7:15

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On 10/23/09 at 3:27 PM, joesalters wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

VOTE YES ON 1, ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, HUMANLY AND MORALLY,

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On 10/25/09 at 4:28 AM, AionCA wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Please vote No on One

Because same-sex couples are people, just like you. They fall in love, care for their children, care about their families, work hard, and even go to church.

Don't believe the lies being told about them, and look at who is telling lies about them - people who want to hide their identities, people who are not motivated by love and caring, but rather by judgment, and violence.

Don't fall for lies and distractions, voting NO on one isn't going to make your kids gay or bring Armageddon.

The only reason people want you to vote YES on One is because they hate gay people, and want to continue to do harm to them, and their families.

Please see it in your heart to Vote No on One.

Thank you.

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