General elections will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Presque Isle residents who desire to vote in person may do so at the Sargent Family Community Center on Chapman Street from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day.
In Presque Isle, topics to be voted on include three state referendums and local elections for city council, election warden and ward clerk, and seven school board seats.
The state referendums include “Question 1: Citizen Initiative” regarding the construction of high-impact electric transmission lines; “Question 2: Bond Issue” regarding a $100 million bond to build or improve roads, bridges, railroads, airports, transit facilities and ports; and “Question 3: Constitutional Amendment” asking voters if they favor an amendment to the Constitution of Maine to declare all individuals have an inherent right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume food of their own choosing.
Two election staff positions are up for election: warden and ward clerk. The warden essentially oversees compliance with election rules and the ward clerk acts as the warden’s assistant. Both are three-year terms. Jayne Farrin is the candidate for warden while the ward clerk will rely on write-ins.
SAD 1 is divided up into 17 districts. Seven of these currently have seats up for election. Each is a three-year term. In District 3 (Mapleton), Janet Brown is running against incumbent Terry Sandusky. In District 4 (Westfield), incumbent Michael Ouellette is running unopposed. The remaining districts on the ballot represent specific portions of Presque Isle. For Districts 7 and 15, there is no one listed on the ballot and the election will be determined by write-ins. In District 14, Brian Hall is running unopposed. The remaining two seats all include incumbents running unopposed: District 10 with Luther (Jim) Bubar, Jr.; and District 13 with Desiree Albert.
For those who wish to vote by absentee ballot, ballots may be requested in person by coming to City Hall, by calling City Hall, or online at: apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl.
Those requesting absentee ballots should make certain to do so in plenty of time to allow for receipt, completion and return to the city clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
You do not have to be out of town or have any special reason to request an absentee ballot. It is a mechanism to allow you to vote without going to the polls in person. Absentee ballots may be requested beginning three months before Election Day, and until the 3rd business day prior to the election, unless special circumstances exist.
Ballots may be returned in person at City Hall, by mail, or placed in the drop box at City Hall. (Mail is received by City Hall once a day in the morning and City Hall closes at 4:30 p.m.)
Kimberly R. Smith is the resource development and public information officer for the city of Presque Isle. She can be reached at 760-2722 or via email at ksmith@presqueisleme.us.
