Here’s what Mainers need to know

Mainers will make their voices heard this Election Day. CBS13 has put together a voting guide with information Mainers should know before heading to the polls on Nov. 5.

The polling stations open on Tuesday between 06.00 and 08.00, depending on where you live. All polling stations throughout the state close at 8:00 p.m

How do I register to vote?

Mainers 18 and older are allowed to vote in the community in which they live.

New voters or those who have moved from one municipality to another can fill out a voter registration card at your town or city office or any motor vehicle office.

There is no limit to personal registration, and you can also register on election day at your polling station. You must provide proof of residence at your address, such as an ID or a utility bill.

Call your local council office to confirm your registration.

Where is my polling place?

The state has one online tool to look up your polling station, or you can call your municipal office.

How do I vote absentee?

You can request a ballot using the state’s online form or make an inquiry at your municipal office. The state recommends that you allow seven to 10 days to get your ballot if you request one less than a month before the election.

The deadline to get your ballot back to the local clerk is 20.00 on election day. You can track the status of your voice request using this online tool.

What is ranked choice voting?

Ranked-choice voting, also known as instant voting, allows voters to select candidates in order of preference.

In Maine, it is used in primaries for state offices and both primaries and general elections for federal races. So we’re seeing ranked elections this fall, for example, on US Senate and Congressional votes.

Basically, while voting, you can rank as many candidates as you want, first, second, third and so on, but you don’t have to, you can also just pick one.

Your first choice counts on election night. If one candidate gets 50 percent plus one vote, they win outright.

But if not, all the ballots will be taken to a secure location in Augusta, where they will be counted in rounds of ranked elections.

Let’s say we have three candidates: A, B and C.

C receives the fewest votes, so they are eliminated in the first round, and then all of their second-choice votes are distributed to the other candidates.

If there are more candidates, there are more rounds, and this continues until one candidate gets over 50 percent. Let’s say in our example it is B and is declared the winner.

Ranked voting has been used several times to determine races since Maine began using it in June 2018.

For example, that fall, Congressman Jared Golden beat out then-incumbent Bruce Poliquin in a four-way race after a ranked-choice count that ended up lasting about nine days.

However, ranked election counting rarely takes that long, but if there is no clear winner on election night, it can take several days to go through the ranked election process.

Maine is currently one of three states, including Alaska and Hawaii, that use ranked-choice elections at the statewide level. Nevada is considering it this fall. About 45 cities around the country use it at the municipal level.

The Maine Secretary of State’s Office has helpful videos and other information about ranked choice voting on their website.

Questions for nationwide referendum

QUESTION 1: An Act to limit contributions to political action committees that make independent expenditures. Will you put a $5,000 limit on giving to political action committees that use money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?

Question 1 concerns super PACs and elections. Supporters of Question 1 say this will prevent powerful people from interfering with Maine’s interests. Opponents say they are concerned. Question 1 limits free speech and could mean legal costs for Maine.

QUESTION 2: An act authorizing a general fund bond issue for research and development and commercialization. Do you prefer a $25,000,000 bond issue to provide funds to be awarded through a competitive process and to leverage matching private and federal funds on at least a one-to-one basis, for research and development and commercialization for Maine-based public and private institutions to support technological innovation in the targeted sectors of life sciences and biomedical technology, environmental and renewable energy technology, information technology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, aquaculture and marine technology, composites and advanced materials and precision manufacturing?

Question 2 asks whether voters want to invest $25 million in technological innovation. If passed, the bond would provide money to public and private entities working on projects in areas such as biomedical technology, renewable energy or forestry.

QUESTION 3: An Act to authorize a general fund bond issue to restore historic community buildings. Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to restore historic buildings owned by government and nonprofit organizations, with funds issued subject to a 25% local match requirement from either private or nonprofit sources?

Question 3 asks if voters would approve a $10 million bond to restore historic buildings owned by the government or non-profit.

QUESTION 4: An act authorizing a general fund bond issue to promote the design, development, and maintenance of trails for outdoor recreation and active transportation. Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to invest in the design, development and maintenance of non-motorized, motorized and multi-use trails across the country, to be matched by at least $3,000,000 in private and public contributions?

Question 4 on your ballot would provide the necessary funding to clean them up from storm damage, repair bridges and repair signs.

If all three bond issues are approved, that’s a $65 million state loan. Maine State Treasurer Henry Beck says that equates to an estimated $86.6 million in repayment after interest.

All three bond issues require some form of private or public match for the bonds to be issued. This means that the recipient must have an investment in the project in order to receive the state aid.

QUESTION 5: An Act to restore the former flag of the State of Maine. Do you favor making the former state flag, replaced as the state’s official flag in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the state’s official flag?

Question 5 asks if you would change the current Maine flag, which is blue and has the state seal, to one similar to Maine’s original 1901 flag, which has a pine tree and a blue star. No design will be depicted on the ballot itself.

Presidential candidates

• Kamala Harris, Democrat
• Donald Trump, Republican
• Cornel West, Independent
• Jill Stein, The Greens
• Chase Oliver, Libertarian

Presidential election votes

Maine has a total of four electoral votes, including two awarded to the statewide winner and one each awarded to the winner of each of the state’s congressional districts.

Along with Nebraska, Maine is one of two states that awards some of its electoral votes by congressional district rather than winner-take-all. The winner of the statewide referendum in Maine receives two electoral votes, and the state has favored Democratic presidential candidates since 1992. The state’s remaining electoral votes are awarded based on the vote in each of Maine’s two congressional districts.

In 2016 and 2020, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden won the statewide vote and the 1st Congressional District vote. Republican former President Donald Trump won the 2nd Congressional District in both years.

US House of Representatives – 1st Congressional District Candidates

• Chellie Pingree, Democrat – Incumbent – Pingree was first elected to Congress in 2008.
• Ronald Russell, Republican
• Ethan Alcorn, Independent

US House of Representatives – 2nd Congressional District candidates

• Jared Golden, Democrat – Incumbent
• Austin Theriault, Republican

In the 2nd congressional district, the Democratic Rep. Jared Golden faces a competitive challenge from Republican Austin Theriault in his bid for a fourth term. The last time Golden ran for re-election in a presidential year, he got 53% of the district’s vote, while Trump got 52% in the presidential election.

US Senate Candidates

• Angus King, Independent – incumbent
• Demi Kouzounas, Republican
• David Costello, Democrat
• Jason Cherry, Independent

Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, faces a challenge in his re-election bid from Democrat David Costello, Republican Demi Kouzounas and independent Jason Cherry. King was first elected to the Senate in 2012.

For a complete list of Maine State Senate candidates, CLICK HERE

For a complete list of Maine House of Representatives candidates, CLICK HERE.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.