Absentee ballots, ranked choice voting information available at Lewiston City Hall

LEWISTON — Absentee ballots are available in the City Clerk’s office for the June 12 state primary and referendum election, and residents who want to learn more about ranked choice voting can find the information at City Hall.

Lewiston residents who would like to vote early may mail an application form, which can be downloaded from the city’s website, or can come into City Hall to vote in person. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Voters may also order an absentee ballot online through the city’s website.
“Absentee voting is increasingly popular with each election,” said City Clerk Kathy Montejo. She said voters are interested in absentee voting for a variety of reasons — they can have additional time to study and review their ballot, they can avoid going out in bad weather if it is rainy or cold on election day, they can avoid the crowds and it is just more convenient for many voters.
The following candidate races will be appearing on the Democratic party and/or Republican party ballots: Governor; U.S. Senator; Representative to Congress District 2; State Senator District 21; Representative to the Legislature Districts 58, 59, 60 and 61; Judge of Probate; Androscoggin County District Attorney, sheriff and county commissioner for Districts 2 and 3.
All voters will be eligible to vote on the state referendum ballot and the city referendum ballot, regardless of party affiliation. Only voters enrolled in the Democratic, Republican or Green-Independent Parties will be entitled to vote on those ballots as well.
There is an additional ballot for the special municipal referendum election pertaining to the participation in a regional service center for the school department.
Also on the state ballot is a referendum question regarding the people’s veto pertaining to implementation of ranked choice voting.
Voter information table at City Hall
The City Clerk’s Office has set up a voter information table at City Hall to provide residents with materials regarding ranked choice voting. Handouts include copies of the sample ballots for primary election, as well as basic information from the Maine secretary of state about ranked choice voting and a list of frequently asked questions about it.
Residents may stop by the second floor of City Hall to pick up literature regarding next month’s primary election.
“This is part of the city’s on-going voter education program to inform the residents about their voting options for the June 12 election” said Montejo.
In addition, the City Clerk will make a presentation to the Lewiston senios organization during their monthly meeting on June 4.
The voter information table was prepared to provide information for voters who may not have access to the internet.
“We are aware that many of our residents do not use computers or the internet and therefore might be seeking sources of additional information to prepare for Maine’s first ranked choice voting election,” said Montejo. “We are pleased to provide this information table to help aid them in learning more about the ranked choice voting ballots in advance of election day.”
The city’s website contains sample ballots, directions to polling places and other information that voters may find useful. The website address is:www.lewistonmaine.gov/elections
Also available on the city’s website is information pertaining to ranked choice voting, which is how the governor’s race and the representative to congress race for the Democratic Party will be tabulated. Residents without access to the internet are encouraged to stop into Lewiston City Hall to pick up material from the voter information table.
Voters have internet access may also visit the Maine secretary of state’s ranked choice voting resource center website for more information at www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec.
Voters may contact the City Clerk’s Office at 207-513-3124 with any questions they may have regarding the election process.