May 7, 2021

Hello Portland Voters,

I only add to my regular monthly email occasionally...when a particular issue warrants additional communication. This is one of those times! 

With just about a month to go before the June 8th municipal election to elect 9 Charter Commissioners (to add to the 3 Council appointees named last summer) - I want to share all the information I have regarding resources, and upcoming Candidate Forums. (This is my best list at this time - there may be more out there in terms of resources and opportunities to engage.) 

And remember, we also vote on the Portland Public Schools 2021-2022 Budget on June 8th. (In addition to candidate forums listed below, I also include absentee ballot and in-person voting info.)

Thank you for taking time to study the issues, consider the candidates, and for voting in the June municipal election. 

Sincerely - Kate Snyder

The candidate forums below are listed chronologically:

District 1:

On Monday, May 10th from 7-8:30PM a District 1 Candidate Forum will be hosted by the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization.

Please register by clicking on this link: here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

At-Large:

On Tuesday, May 18 from 7 PM-8:30PM an At Large Candidate Forum will be Co-hosted by the Bayside Neighborhood Association (BNA), Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization (MHNO), University Neighborhood Organization (UNO), West End Neighborhood Association (WENA) and the Western Promenade Neighborhood Association (WPNA)

Please click the link below to join the webinar: here

District 4:

On Wednesday, May 19, from 7 to 8 pm Candidates for District 4 forum will be hosted by BCNA, Deering Center Neighborhood Association (DCNA), and Friends of Woodfords Corner. 

Click  Here to participate in that meeting.

District 5:

On Thursday May 20th at 7pm, DCNA will host a District 5 Charter Commission Candidate Forum. Click here for info, Facebook event, and Zoom link.

District 3:

On Wednesday, May 26 at 7:00pm a District 3 Candidate Forum. 

Click here for Zoom link.

Voters wishing to vote absentee in the June 8 Special Municipal Election for the Charter Commissioners and School Budget Referendum can request their absentee ballot now. 

The City is now offering a new online request form. Absentee ballots may also be requested by calling the City Clerk's office at 207-874-8677, Monday - Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm, or by mailing, faxing, or emailing a completed absentee ballot application. Mail to the City Clerk's Office at 389 Congress Street, Portland ME 04101, fax to 207-874-8612, or email to [email protected].

Absentee Ballots will become available and provided to voters beginning in early May. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Friday, June 4, 2021. Ballots must be returned to the municipal clerk no later than 8:00 pm on Election Day, June 8, 2021. 

In-person early absentee voting will begin in May once the ballots have arrived. The City will send out another alert once this begins. Voting will be available during the City Clerk’s office hours -- Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M -- in the Box Office Lobby for Merrill Auditorium. The public should use the Myrtle Street entrance to Merrill Auditorium.

On Thursday, June 3 only, the Clerk’s Office will stay open until 7:00 PM for in-person voting. The last day for in-person absentee voting will be June 4. 

On Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the City’s 11 polling locations will open at 7:00 A.M. and close at 8:00 P.M. Based on your residency, you must vote at your polling place. 

Voters should visit the Maine Voter Information Lookup Service to locate their correct polling place or visit www.portlandmaine.gov/elections for more elections and voting information. Same day voter registration is allowed. 

ABOUT THE CHARTER COMMISSION ELECTION

City of Portland voters approved creating a Charter Commission to open up review of the City Charter during the July 14, 2020 Election. On August 10, 2020, the City Council approved the appointment of three members to serve on the Charter Commission and established that nine additional members elected by Portland voters will serve on the Commission. Voters will elect the remaining nine members of the Commission on June 8, 2021, and then the Charter Commission will begin its work of reviewing the City Charter.

As usual, some City of Portland resources - FYI. 

Council Meetings: The Portland City Council meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. In the case of a Monday holiday, we typically meet the next Wednesday. In the case of school vacation weeks, we typically push the meeting by a week. Agendas and Info, go here.

Council Committee Meetings: There are five Council Committees: Finance, Health & Human Services & Public Safety, Sustainability & Transportation, Housing & Economic Development, and Legislative & Nominating. For Committee Meeting Info, go here. 

To sign up for the City’s Weekly E-Newsletter and the Friday News Round Up, please click here and subscribe to the ‘City News’ group.