Elections & Voting

VOTER REGISTRATION – Making Your Voice Heard

The State of Maine allows residents to register to vote any time leading up to and including the day of election.  Residents of Warren may register to vote at the Town Office, 167 Western Road or at the polls on Election Day.  Proof of residency and proof of identity is required, such as a driver’s license indicating physical street address in Warren (not a post office box mailing address).  There is no cut-off date for registering to vote in person at your town office or city hall. If you want to register to vote by mail or through a voter registration drive, the cut-off date is the close of business on the 21st day before the election.

Change Your Registration Status

If you are currently registered and wish to change any information, such as your married name or residence address (which is pertinent to your voting record), please visit the Town Clerk’s Office.  Currently there are five (5) official political parties within the State of Maine: Democrat, Republican, Green Independent, Libertarian, and No Labels..  Registered voters may enroll in one of these five (5) political parties.  However, voters who wish to register to vote do not have to select a political party: voters can be registered to vote but may choose to be unenrolled.

Regarding Political Party changes to Voter Registration:

• State law requires a 15-day waiting period after a change of party enrollment before a citizen can cast a ballot in that party’s primary or participate in its caucus or convention (this does not apply if changing from UNENROLLED to one of the three official parties).  (See CLOSED PERIOD INFORMATION below)
• Unenrolled voters can enroll in any qualified party at any time, including Election Day. Registered voters who are enrolled in one of the five (5) qualified parties, however, must meet certain deadlines to change their party affiliation prior to primary elections in which a party is choosing its candidates

o   Voters must remain in a party for three months before they are eligible to file an application for withdrawal or a change in enrollment

o   Additionally, those who withdraw from a party are ineligible to enroll in a different party for 15 days

CLOSED PERIOD INFORMATION

o   20 business days prior to any election

o   Applicants must register in person at the town office, OR at the Registrar table at the polls

o   NEW RESIDENTS must show satisfactory proof of identity and residency to the Registrar, in order for their names to be added to the incoming voter list for Election Day

 

How do I vote absentee?

 ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Absentee Ballot APPLICATIONS are made available 90 days prior to the election. 

Absentee BALLOTS are made available thirty (30) days before the election.

Absentee ballots will not be issued after the close of business on the Thursday prior to the election unless there are special circumstances (see "SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES" below). 

Absentee ballots must be received by 8:00 pm on Election Day in order to be counted.  Any absentee ballots received after this time will not be counted. 

• A voter or immediate family member may request an absentee ballot in person at the town office during regular business hours, by filling out an application for an absentee ballot.
• A voter may vote by absentee ballot in person at the Town Office during regular business hours. 
• A voter may request an absentee ballot over the phone during regular business hours.  Absentee ballots requested over the phone are mailed out either the same day or next day.  They can be returned by mail, or in person or by a family member at the town office (either across the counter, or by dropping in the secure drop box) or at the polls on Election Day.
• For state-wide elections ONLY, an online absentee ballot request service is available, which is activated prior to each upcoming election. http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl (applicable municipal ballots will also be made available for those using the online request system).
• Absentee ballots must be returned by 8:00 pm on Election Day.                                             

NEW TO THE ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST SERVICE: Voters with disabilities are able to request an accessible electronic absentee ballot using the online Absentee Ballot Request (ABR) service http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl  . The Elections Division will process the absentee ballot request and will issue an email notification to the voter, with login credentials and instructions for accessing the state’s secure ballot website to download an HTML ballot. The ballot will allow the voter’s screen reader software to read the ballot to the voter and provide a means for the voter to independently mark the ballot and electronically “sign” the voter’s affirmation (using their provided password). They will then save the marked, locked and signed ballot to their computer and return it to the Elections Division drop box via email.

The deadline to request an Absentee Ballot is 6 pm the THURSDAY PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY. 

Special Circumstances Application - REQUIRED after deadline and must meet strict criteria:

Any voter requesting a ballot, including voters who request to vote in the clerk’s presence, after the deadline must complete the Special Circumstances Application and indicate one of the 4 reasons allowed by statute: Title 21-A §753-B, sub-section 2(D):

1) Unexpected absence from the municipality during the entire time the polls are open on Election Day; 2) Physical or mental disability;

3) Inability to travel to the polls if the voter is a resident of an island ward or precinct;

4) Incapacity or illness that has resulted in the voter being unable to leave home or a treatment facility; or

5) Being a caregiver who is unable to attend the polls due to the incapacity or illness of another person.

The application must be signed by the voter. An immediate family member CANNOT sign the Special Circumstances Application for the voter.

The voter must indicate in the application how the ballot is to be issued.

Witness requirements are the same as for absentee ballots issued prior to the deadline.

The Special Circumstances Application must be completed even if the voter wants to vote the ballot in the municipal office.

By signing the application, the voter is making an unsworn oath that all information in the application is true.

Once the application is completed by the voter, the Municipal Clerk must issue the ballot in the manner requested by the voter.

NOTE: The deadline for returning absentee ballots has not changed.

 

Unless announced otherwise, all elections are held at 105 CAMDEN ROAD, WARREN, ME  04864 (Masonic Hall).

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS – Board of Selectmen, School Board Members & Warren Sanitary District Board Members

The annual Municipal Election to elect Board of Selectmen, School Board Members & Warren Sanitary District Board Members is held in conjunction with the State Election on the second Tuesday in June.  The polls are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Masonic Hall at 105 Camden Road, Warren.

STATE ELECTIONS

The State typically holds Elections on the second Tuesday in June and the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November each year.  The Primary Election is held on the second Tuesday of June of each even numbered year, while the General Election is held on the first Tuesday in November also in each even numbered year.  Referendums may be held at either the June or November Election days.  The polls are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Masonic Hall at 105 Camden Road, Warren.

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

The Annual Town Meeting is held in June, typically a week after the Municipal Election, at 105 Camden Rd., Warren, ME  04864.

SPECIAL TOWN MEETINGS are generally held at the Town of Warren Municipal complex: 167 Western Rd., Warren, ME  04864.

Upcoming Elections - from the Secretary of State, Election Division http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/index.html  

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Maine Political Parties

Maine currently has five qualified parties: Democratic, Green Independent, Libertarian, No Labels, and Republican that may participate in primary elections. (Note: although some unenrolled candidates choose to designate themselves as “Independent,” there is no “Independent” party in Maine). 

2024 Enrollment Options

 A Maine registered voter may enroll in one of the following parties by checking the appropriate box on the Maine Voter Registration Application:

Democratic

Green Independent

Libertarian

No Labels

Republican

 A voter not wishing to join any party should check the “Unenrolled (no party choice)” box on the application.

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Ranked-choice Voting (RCV)

Visit the RCV Resources page for more information about ranked-choice voting, including Frequently Asked Questions and sample ballots. 

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Contact the Elections Division

207-624-7650 
cec.elections@maine.gov

Town Clerk/Registrar - Cori Michaud at the Town Office 273-2421