We hope you and your family are safe and healthy as we all navigate and endure this especially difficult time.
As our hearts go out to the many Mainers across our state who are feeling the harrowing effects of this pandemic, we wanted to send a quick update on some of the ways we, along with our state leaders, are planning ahead for this election season to ensure you and your fellow Mainers can safely cast your ballots.
Governor Mills issues voting executive order
We applaud Gov. Mills for issuing a critical election executive order last week to move Maine's primary election from June 9 to July 14. In an important move to ensure the health and safety of voters, allowing all eligible voters to request absentee ballots with no excuse up to and including Election Day. The governor's order also extends the deadline for qualifying contributions under the state's clean election law to May 19.
Read Gov. Mills' executive order here.
Request an absentee ballot
Our daily routines have been upended. Yet, as we're busy adjusting to a new normal, the new July primary will be here before we know it. The upcoming races will have serious consequences for all of us. With both your safety and the importance of making your voice heard in mind, we’re encouraging you to vote by absentee ballot.
If you are already registered to vote, you can request an absentee ballot here from now until Election Day, but we suggest you make a plan to vote now to ensure your ballot is received on time. The Bureau of Elections website has a great FAQ page with more information on how absentee voting works.
Not registered? Here's how.
You can now download and print a copy of Maine’s voter registration card from your home. Completed voter registration cards, along with necessary documentation, may be mailed to your town office or city hall or sent to the Secretary of State's office in Augusta. You may be able to drop them off at your town office, but call first. Here's the State of Maine voter guide with more information.
New voters who register by mail must provide a copy of certain identity documents with the completed registration form. The mail-in registrant may submit a copy of a Maine driver’s license or other valid photo ID, a current utility bill, a bank statement, a paycheck stub, or other government document that shows the voter’s current name and address.
Download and print your Maine voter registration application here.
Maine Conservation Alliance takes action to ensure a safe and participatory primary
Even as the pandemic threatens the health and safety of Maine communities, we cannot allow it to threaten our democracy.
That's why Maine Conservation Alliance joined twelve other Maine advocacy organizations calling on Gov. Mills and Secretary of State Matt Dunlap to take action to ensure a safe and participatory primary. Our recommendations include:
- Flexibility in accepting voter registration applications by email and relaxing voter registration deadlines
- Mailing an absentee ballot request to all registered voters and streamlining party enrollment through that process
- Paid postage for absentee ballot requests and ballot returns
- Massive, coordinated communication with voters
- In-person voting compliant with CDC guidelines for other essential services
- Early voting and extended ballot-counting deadlines
Here are the complete details of our voting recommendations and the list of partner organizations.
Action Alert: Tell Sens. King & Collins to support funding to protect our elections
Voters should not have to choose between their health and their vote. Congress must institute reforms at the federal level like voting by mail or absentee voting that will allow voters to safely cast their ballot and provide states the funding they need to run safe and secure elections.
Join us to urge Sen. King and Collins to include $4 billion in funding to secure our elections in the next round of stimulus from the federal government. Call 888-415-4527 to get some quick instructions and be automatically connected.
Take care and be well,
Will Sedlack, Civic Engagement Manager
Maine Conservation Voters
295 Water St.
Ste. 9
Augusta, ME 04330
United States
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