‘Tis the Season For Political Signs; Intersection of Eastern Promenade and Congress Street

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 1,225)

Portland has just annonced that absentee ballots for the November 6th election are now available at the city hall.  There are several ways in which registered voters can request an absentee ballot.  They include:  by phone, fax, email (http://www.maine.gov/cgibin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl) or in person at the City Clerk’s office.

Voters voting by absentee ballot will receive a state ballot and one city ballot and should review the instructions included with the absentee ballot before voting.  All ballots in this election are double-sided.

Voters have the option of voting absentee in person at the City Clerk’s office (Room 203) during regular office hours, Monday through Friday 9 am to 4:30 pm until Thursday, November 1, 2012.  The City Clerk’s office wikll extent their hours until 8 pm November 1st to accommodate the change in state absentee voting laws.

To receive an absentee ballot, you must be a registered voter.  To register to vote in Portland, you must bring identification and proof of Portland residence to the City Clerk’s office.  A driver’s license or state identificatioln card with the current address meets both criteria, otherwise, a checkbook, car registration, or a piece of personal mail addressed to the applicant at the current address will suffice.  On Election Day, Portland residents can register to vote at their polling place.

For up-to-date information about voting this November, visit www.portlandvoters.com or call the city’s voter hotline at 874-8677.