The BDN Editorial Board operates independently from the newsroom, and does not set policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com.
You’ve endured months of increasingly nasty campaign ads. Your mailbox has been crammed full of mailers, mostly trashing political opponents. Your phone has been inundated with calls and texts from candidates.
Now, it is time for you to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The too-close-to-call U.S. Senate race between Sen. Susan Collins and Troy Jackson has gotten the most attention, and campaign cash, this year. The race is one of the few that will help determine which political party will control the U.S. Senate for the remainder of Donald Trump’s presidency. The choice is between Collins and her long record, which includes chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee and securing money for needed projects in Maine communities, and Jackson, the long-time president of the Maine Senate, who could help Democrats work to hold Trump more accountable and halt, and perhaps reverse, some of his most damaging actions.
Polling shows the race to be exceedingly close, so every ballot matters.
In Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, former Republican Gov. Paul LePage is running against State Auditor Matt Dunlap, a Democrat. The seat is open because Rep. Jared Golden unexpectedly announced a year ago that he would not seek reelection. He cited the increasing nastiness of politics for one reason for his departure from Congress. That race is also close as national pundits predict Democrats will gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the 1st Congressional District, Rep. Chellie Pingree is expected to cruise to victory of Republican challenger Ron Russell, who also ran against her two years ago. Pingree won that contest by more than 20 percentage points.
Maine’s governorship is open with Gov. Janet Mills ending her tenure at the end of year due to term limits. Most polls show Democrat Hannah Pingree with a comfortable lead against Republican Bobby Charles and independent Rick Bennett. This important contest has been largely overshadowed by the turbulent — and costly — Senate race.
The Bangor Daily News opinion page sought subscriber questions for the candidates for governor, House and Senate. The detailed Q&As, which covered health care, Social Security, climate change, accountability, and other issues, can be found at www.bangordailynews.com/candidates-questions/.
Every seat in the Maine Legislature is up for election this fall. Many communities also have municipal races and school board seats up for election on Tuesday. In Bangor, a record 12 candidates are seeking three seats on the city council. The slate of candidates is as varied as it is deep, offering voters needed choices as the city faces vexing challenges, especially homelessness, substance use and high housing costs.
Voters in Penobscot County will see a question asking whether county commissioners should be authorized to move the overcrowded county jail to a location outside of Bangor. The commissioners have already spent $100,000 to hold a parcel of land in Hampden for a proposed new jail. This question does not authorize or raise the funds for a new jail. That will be put to county voters in the future, likely next year.
The BDN’s news and politics teams provide extensive coverage of these, and other, campaigns. They also have answers to questions about how and where to vote.
You can find your polling place and even see a sample ballot using the secretary of state’s voter information lookup service.
If you’re not registered to vote yet, Maine allows you to register up to and on Election Day. You’ll need to provide proof of residency, so bring identification — a photo ID works but so does an official piece of mail like a utility bill that proves you live where you say you live — when you go to the polls.
Even if there is a problem with your registration, you still can vote under Maine’s challenged ballot law, so there’s no reason to leave a polling place without having your say. If you make a mistake on a ballot, you can take it to a volunteer at the polling place and ask for another.
Maine’s elections are safe, secure and fair, thanks to the hard work of municipal clerks and town office staff, state officials, and legions of volunteers. They deserve our thanks.
Make sure your voice is heard, by turning in your absentee ballot or heading to the polls on Tuesday.
