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Category: Legislative
Election Day Information
Earlier this week, Maine’s Department of the Secretary of State released information regarding the upcoming election on Nov. 5, 2024. The announcement provided details on voter registration, absentee voting and an informational guide on referendum questions that are on this year’s ballot.
Uniformed and overseas voters began receiving ballots on Sept. 19 in accordance with federal law that requires these ballots be sent at least 45 days prior to Election Day. Qualifying voters include spouses and dependents away from their Maine voting residence by reason of active duty or service of the member, and U.S. citizens currently living outside the U.S. and whose residence before leaving the U.S. was in Maine.
Anyone who recently deployed or may otherwise qualify to receive an early ballot and didn’t request to receive one can do so here.
Maine allows same-day voter registration, meaning Mainers may register to vote and cast their ballot on Election Day. However, anyone who wishes to use the state’s online voter registration service must do so before Oct. 16. Automatic voter registration during Bureau of Motor Vehicle transactions is available through Tuesday, Oct. 29. After those deadlines, registrations must be done in person at the voter’s municipality.
The Department said in-person absentee voting begins in towns and cities around the state on Oct. 7. Absentee ballots to be filled out at home and sent back may also be requested by contacting local town or city clerks or by the state’s online portal. Absentee voting ends the Thursday before Election Day, which for this year is Oct. 31.
Finally, the Department said the Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election, a non-partisan resource that can help inform voters about Maine’s five referendum questions appearing on the ballot this year, is available online. Copies of the guide are also printed and distributed to municipal offices and public libraries throughout the state.
Webmaster’s Note: The guide offered in the last paragraph is a very thorough explanation of the referendum questions, fiscal impacts, etc.
November Ballot Questions
Let’s not forget that in November, in addition to elections, Mainers will be asked to vote on some ballot initiatives! The MSG Communications Department is providing them here for your consideration and research before voting. Note Question 3 regarding the restoration of “Historic Community Buildings.” Also, Question 5 will not include pictures of the new flag or the one it will replace.
Below is the order of the initiatives as they will appear on the ballot:
QUESTION 1: An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures, Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?
QUESTION 2: An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Research and Development and Commercialization, Do you favor a bond issue of $25,000,000 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 in support of 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 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 governmental and nonprofit organizations, with funds being issued contingent on a 25% local match requirement from either private or nonprofit sources?
QUESTION 4: An Act to Authorize 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 for nonmotorized, motorized and multi-use trails statewide, to be matched by at least $3,000,000 in private and public contributions?
QUESTION 5: An Act to Restore the Former State of Maine Flag, Do you favor making the former state flag, replaced as the official flag of the State in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the official flag of the State?
More information about upcoming elections is available at https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/index.html. More information about citizen initiatives is available at https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/citizens/index.html.
“The most important office, and the one which all of us can and should fill, is that of private citizen.”
Unknown
Happy Fourth!
The Fourth of July – also known as Independence Day or July 4th – has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941; yet the tradition of Independence Day celebrations dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolutionary War.
On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Britain. Two days later, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.
The Declaration of Independence allowed Congress to seek alliances with foreign countries, and the fledgling U.S. formed its most important alliance early in 1778 with France. Without France’s support, America might well have lost the Revolutionary War.
The war waged by the American colonies against Britain, which began more than a year earlier in April 1775 at Lexington and Concord near Boston, would eventually end when British forces surrendered in Yorktown, Virginia. Yet the Declaration and America’s victory had far-reaching effects around the globe as other nations saw a small novel nation win its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.
From 1776 to today, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. This year’s Independence Day celebrating the nation’s 248th birthday will be on Thursday, July 4, 2024.
Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter by Senator Stacey Guerin, Maine Senate District 4.
View from the Hill – May 2024
This monthly newsletter written by Burton Eller, National Grange Legislative Director, covers “what’s happening” in Washington on various topics of interest to Grangers.
Note this is the final issue of “View from the Hill.” The content will become part of Grange Today! The first issue will be released June 14, 2024.
View from the Hill – April 2024
This monthly newsletter written by Burton Eller, National Grange Legislative Director, covers “what’s happening” in Washington on various topics of interest to Grangers.
View from the Hill – March 2024
This monthly newsletter written by Burton Eller, National Grange Legislative Director, covers “what’s happening” in Washington on various topics of interest to Grangers.
View from the Hill – February 2024
This monthly newsletter written by Burton Eller, National Grange Legislative Director, covers “what’s happening” in Washington on various topics of interest to Grangers.
Substance Abuse Education in Maine
There are currently three bills before the Maine Legislature on the topic of Substance Abuse Education. Two of the bills were sponsored by Sen. Brad Farrin, R-Somerset.
One of the bills, LD 2089, outlined new initiatives to increase education and prevention efforts across the state. It would provide 10 hours of instruction for grades 6-12 on the dangers of fentanyl and other drugs, as well as establish the third week in October as “Drug Poisoning Awareness Week.”
His other bill, LD 363, seeks a study to bring together best practices across the state in the treatment and recovery of those suffering from substance use disorder.
A third bill discussed during the briefing was LD 986, which sought to increase penalties for those trafficking in fentanyl – a synthetic opioid many in law enforcement call a poison more than a drug. That bill died last year in non-concurrence between the chambers.
It’s not too early to be thinking about resolutions! Should the Grange support any of these bills or substance abuse education in general?
Maine Primary Absentee Ballots
Maine citizens who are registered to vote may use the State’s free and secure service to request an absentee ballot for the presidential primary election on March 5, 2024. Ballots must be received no later than 8:00 pm on Election Day. For more information, visit the Secretary of State’s Upcoming Elections page.