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!
We have included a lot of information below and it may feel overwhelming. If it's too much, our librarians are happy to assist you in locating and evaluating the resources you need.
The Town Meeting is usually the first Saturday in April at Union Hall (upstairs at the Town Office). Town Meeting Voting is the official start of the Town Meeting.
Local Election/Referendums usually the second Tuesday in June.
The General Election is usually the first Tuesday in November. Voting by ballot takes place at the Searsport Community Building (42 Prospect Street).
For more information, please contact the Searsport Town Office: (207) 548-6372, M-F 8:30am-4pm.
Voter Registration The following guides provide a wealth of information about registering to vote and voting in Maine's elections.
Maine Voter Guide: Describes who can register, how to register and how to vote
Eligibility In Maine you can register any time leading up to an election, including on election day. To be eligible to vote in Maine, you must meet the following requirements:
18 years old
United States Citizen
Resident of the municipality in which you want to vote
Register to vote To register to vote in Maine, you need to 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.
Note: 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.
In-person voting In Searsport, voting takes place from 8am-8pm at the Community Building (former Lions Club) at 42 Prospect Street.
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 an 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.
Absentee voting Absentee voting allows you to cast a ballot without going to a voting place on Election Day. Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person at a voting place on Election Day. You don't need to have a specific reason or be unable to vote at the voting place on Election Day to receive an absentee ballot.
Absentee ballots may be requested beginning 3 months before Election Day, and until the 3rd business day prior to the election, unless special circumstances exist. Make your request early.
Absentee ballots are available at the Searsport Town Office and can be picked up during regular office hours (Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm).
If you would like additional information, please contact:
Office of the Secretary of State Division of Elections 101 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0101 (207) 624-7650 [email protected] www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/
Note: Beginning February 1, 2024, voters who will be at least 65 years of age by the next election or who self-identify as having a disability may apply for ongoing absentee voter status. A voter who qualifies will automatically receive an absentee ballot for each statewide election, municipal election and any other election for which the voter is eligible to vote and need not submit a request for each election. Beginning January 1, 2026, any Maine voter can apply for status as an ongoing absentee voter. To apply, contact your municipal clerk.
Voters must return completed form to their municipal clerk.
Absentee voting: in person You may vote absentee at the clerk's office as soon as absentee ballots are available. Absentee ballots are available at least 30 days before the election at the municipal clerk's office. You don't need to complete an application if you vote in person at the clerk's office. The deadline for absentee voting in the presence of the clerk, unless special circumstances exist, is the Thursday before the election.
Absentee voting: by mail To be counted, voted absentee ballots must be received by the municipal clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. If you plan to use the U.S. mail to receive or return your absentee ballot please note the following U.S. Postal Service advisories for mail delivery:
Request your ballot no later than 15 days prior to Election Day
Return your ballot no later than 7 days prior to Election Day
The USPS has assured the Maine Department of the Secretary of State's office that all absentee ballots returned to your municipal clerk by mail at least 7 days prior to Election Day are guaranteed to be delivered in time to be cast and counted in the election.
If you plan to return your ballot outside of the suggested USPS delivery window, the Maine Department of the Secretary of State encourages voters to drop off ballots in person or via an absentee ballot drop box at your municipal office (if available) no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day; or plan instead to vote in person at the polls on 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.
Ranked choice voting Maine uses Ranked Choice voting for primary elections and for all federal offices in the general election.
Issues and candidates It is important to research the candidates and issues during each election cycle. Below you will find resources that will help you be informed and prepared.
League of Women Voters Maine The League of Women Voters of Maine is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League never supports or opposes any political party or candidate.
The League can answer questions about absentee ballots, voter registration, ranked choice voting, postage, etc. They also offer the following resources:
A spreadsheet that lists municipalities across Maine and their forms of government for reference
A Vote411 website that details voting information specific to your location
National resources
Ballotpedia.org: An 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. Some reliable fact-checking organizations include:
MediaBias/Fact Check: A 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, Open Secrets is non-profit, non-partisan organization. They also list where candidates get their money and 'dark money' is explained in detail.
PolitiFact: A non-profit run by the Poynter Institute.
Snopes: The oldest and largest fact-checking site online, widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and readers as an invaluable research companion. Snopes.com is an independent publication under the company “Snopes Media Group Inc.”
Duke Reporters’ Lab Database of global fact-checking sites: The Reporters’ Lab is a center for journalism research in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. Our core projects focus on fact-checking, but we also do occasional research about trust in the news media and other topics.
Candidate filing deadline
The deadline for nomination papers is 60 days prior to election day. Nomination papers will be made available 40 days before the filing deadline, 100 days before the election.
The deadline for referendum questions is 60 days prior to election day.
State, local, and federal government Town of Searsport The website for the town of Searsport contains information about town meetings, contact information, calendars, history and more.
Town of Searsport Board of Selectmen The Select Board meet the first and third Tuesday of the month in Union Hall at 6 PM. Residents of Searsport with Spectrum Cable can view the meeting live on channel 7. The meetings are also available on the town website.
James Gillway | Town Manager
Doug Norman | Select Board Chair | Term expires in 2027
Mark Bradstreet | Select Board Vice Chair | Term expires in 2025
Wesley Norton | Member of the Select Board | Term expires in 2027
Sandra Otis-Anderson | Member of the Select Board | Term expires in 2026
Steve Tanguay | Member of the Select Board | Term expires in 2026
Waldo County Information about Waldo County and the departments within County government can be found on the county website.