Here is everything you need to know to cast your ballot this November! Voting is a great privilege and comes with some responsibilities. Make sure you are registered, know how to get your ballot, and research the candidates and issues you will be voting on. You might even consider becoming a poll worker! If you are a US citizen over the age of 18 on November 3rd, you have the right to vote! The Town Office is still waiting for all the details from the Secretary of State, so we will update this page as we get further clarifications. Request your ballot early if you are not planning to vote in person!
Dates and deadlines Age to register: Voters must be at least 18 by election day. Register to vote: You can register to vote at the Town Office. (1 Union Street, Searsport, M-F 8:30-4) You can also register to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, or at a voter registration drive. Dates and deadlines:
Register to vote (mailed registration) – (received) 21 days before Election Day
Register to vote (in person registration) – up to and including Election Day
Request an absentee ballot - Online: by 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2020 (In person, possibly even up to 8pm on Election Day; further details when we get the election information from the Secretary of State's office).
Absentee ballots returned - Ballots must be returned to the municipal clerk no later than 8:00 pm on Election Day.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Vote in person at the Searsport Lion's Club, 42 Prospect Street, 8am to 8pm.
For more information, contact the Searsport Town Office: (207) 548-6372, M-F 8:30am-4pm.
Register How to register in Maine: Fill out a Maine Voter Registration Application:
Mail or deliver your completed and signed application directly to the Municipal Clerk or Registrar of Voters in the town where you live to avoid delays in processing. In Maine you can register any time leading up to an election, including election day. Re-register: If you have already registered to vote, you only need to re-register if you move, change your name, wish to change political party affiliations, or if your signature has changed.
Absentee/vote by mail Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person at a voting place on Election Day.
In Maine, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2020. Ballots must be returned to the municipal clerk no later than 8:00 pm on Election Day. You can request an absentee ballot:
Call your local City or Town Hall. Searsport Town Office: (207) 548-6372, M-F 8:30am-4pm.
Absentee ballots are available at the Town Office. You can vote there or take it with you and return it by mail or by bringing it back to the office.
The drive up window at Town Office is available for residents who wish to drop off absentee ballots without exiting their vehicle. Use care when driving up and be patient, this is new to all of us. There is a doorbell at the bottom of the window to alert staff that you are there.
Once registration is verified and the application is processed, a paper ballot is mailed to the designated address beginning 30 days prior to Election Day. You can track the status of your absentee ballot here. The absentee ballot request page requires a voter’s name, date of birth and city of residence. Once that is entered, a grid will show whether the voter’s request was accepted or rejected, the date it was delivered, and the date when the completed ballot was returned to the clerk.
Vote in person Vote in person at the Searsport Community Building (old Lion's Club), 42 Prospect Street, 8am to 8pm.
When you arrive, you’ll need to check in with the election officials to confirm that you are registered. If you need help voting, you can bring along a relative or friend, or ask an election official.
What do I need to bring?
If you’ve voted in Maine before, you don’t need to provide ID to vote.
If you’re a first-time voter who registered by mail, you may need to show one of these documents to vote if you didn’t provide one when you registered: Maine driver’s license, Maine state ID card, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address .
Voters without ID: If you don’t have ID or proof of residence, you can cast a challenged ballot. You may be asked to provide ID after the election for your ballot to count.
Party affiliation: Voters do not have to register with a party, but they do have to choose, publicly, which party’s ballot they will vote in primary elections. You do not need to choose a party to vote in general elections.
League of Women Voters Maine A nonpartisan political membership organization, presenting “fair and unbiased” voter education material. Stay tuned for their helpful voter guide! They have just opened a hotline providing nonpartisan info about voting in Maine. The phone line is 207 558-3333; or emailvote@lwvme.org. The League can answer questions about absentee ballots, voter registration, ranked choice voting, postage, etc.
Ballotpedia.org Ballotpedia is the online encyclopedia of American politics and elections; providing accurate and objective information about politics at all levels of government.
Project Vote Smart Find sample ballots, candidate voting records, interest group ratings, speeches, campaign contributions, and current and past ballot measures by date & issue
Rock the Vote Voter information and engagement resources targeted to the under-30 set, but excellent voter/voting info source for all.
Evaluating Information More than ever during an election year, there will be a lot of information being shared. It is important to evaluate information you are consuming and sharing. These links have general information Start with this UNE guide on how to spot fake news and more! MediaBias/Fact Check: comprehensive media bias resource; currently 3200+ media sources listed in the database and growing every day. Open Secrets: run by the Center for Responsible Politics; non-profit, non-partisan. Also lists where candidates get their money. Dark money is explained in detail. PolitiFact: non-profit run by the Poynter Institute.
Too much? There is so much information it is easy to be overwhelmed! Librarians are happy to assist you in locating and evaluating the resources you need!