Published on September 16, 2020

Town Clerk Debra Lane provided the Town Council with an update on the Municipal Election Warrant and General Election protocols during the Sept. 14, 2020 Town Council meeting.  The Nov. 3 election will include voting for two Town Council members, two School Board members – each serving a three-year term until Dec. 11, 2023 – and a five-year term for the Portland Water District Board of Trustees.  A complete list of candidates qualifying for the municipal election can be found here.

In response to queries form citizens concerned about voting during the pandemic, Lane explained that because Maine has utilized absentee ballots for many years the state is well experienced with offering absentee voting methods.  Currently, anyone interested in voting via absentee ballot may do so by any of the following three options: 

1. Through the State of Maine Online Absentee Ballot Request Service, no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020.
2. Downloading a printable paper application form and returning a completed form to the Town Clerk by fax 207-799-7141 or by mail to: Town Clerk, P.O. Box 6260, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107.
3. Calling the Town Clerk to request an absentee ballot at 207-799-7665. The deadline to request a ballot to be mailed is Oct. 29, 2020.

The Town Clerk expects to receive the ballots approximately 30 days prior to the election and will mail out absentee ballots to those who have requested them in the early part of October.  Lane encourages people interested in voting via absentee ballot to request their ballots as soon as possible as she anticipates a "record-setting number" of absentee ballot requests.  To date, 3,300 requests have been made.  The 2016 general election, by comparison, had 3,800 and the recent July 2020 election had 3,000. 

Instructions on where and how to submit absentee ballots will be included within the mailed ballots, but voters can expect to return absentee ballots by one of the following options:

1. Mailing completed ballots via the United States Postal Service.
2. Depositing completed ballots in an official election dropbox that will be installed in front of the Town Hall.

Once the Town Clerk is in possession of the ballots, more information will be made available and posted on the town website.  As during the July election, the number of community members accessing absentee balloting or hand-delivering absentee ballots will be restricted to no more than three people at one time, with approximately two two-hour voting periods per day.  Town Manager Matthew Sturgis commented that despite the restrictions and the significant voter turnout, the July election proceeded smoothly and safely.  

Responding to concerns about people voting more than once, Lane explained that a voter would receive a duplicate ballot only if he or she requested a replacement ballot for one already issued. For example, the voter may have spilled coffee/water on the ballot, destroyed the ballot in error, lost the ballot or threw the ballot away. If a duplicate ballot is issued, and both ballots are returned, the first properly returned ballot would be accepted and the second would be rejected. Furthermore, in hopes of encouraging absentee voting and thereby limiting the risk associated with voting amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Janet Mills has informed Maine municipalities that the counting of absentee ballots may begin one week prior to the Nov. 3 election.

On Election Day the total number of people allowed within the voting area will be limited to 50 people.  This number includes election officials.  As usual, voting will occur within the Cape Elizabeth High School gymnasium from 7 a.m.- 8 p.m.   Anyone interested in volunteering during the election period should contact Debra Lane.