By Rep. Parnell Terry
Election Day is right around the corner, and Gorham residents will have an opportunity to make their voices heard on a number of important issues on November 3. Regardless of party affiliation, I want to emphasize that your vote matters.
Maine has a long tradition of strong voter participation. This commitment to democracy has helped shape our community and state. With this in mind, it is a great time to make a plan to vote!
As always, you can vote in person at your polling location on November 3. It is always a good idea to make sure your polling location has not changed before you head out the door. You can check the Voter Information Lookup Services here: www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php. You can also call the Town of Gorham to verify your polling location at (207) 222-1600.
I know that it can be difficult for everyone to vote in person on Election Day. Many people are working long days or hold multiple jobs. Older Mainers and veterans may have limited mobility, and young families are often busy with after-school activities, like shuttling kids between sports practices. Weather can also make travel difficult, and Election Day falls right in the middle of hunting season.
If you want to vote before Election Day, early voting runs from October 4 through October 29 this year. Between these dates, stop by the Gorham Municipal Center at any time during normal business hours to cast your vote. You do not need to complete an absentee ballot application. Currently, the Town Clerk’s Office is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
You can also request an absentee ballot either online at absenteeballotrequest.sos.maine.gov/ or by calling the Town of Gorham at (207) 222-1670. The last day to request an absentee ballot is October 29 and Gorham will begin mailing ballots to voters on October 4.
If you are voting absentee, I encourage you to request and return your ballot well in advance of Election Day. You can return your ballot by placing it in the secure ballot drop box outside of the Gorham Municipal Center, via U.S. mail or by delivering it in person to the Gorham Town Clerk’s Office. With recent USPS mail delays, this year, absentee voters may consider dropping their ballot directly in the secure drop box outside the Gorham Municipal Center to ensure it’s received by the deadline. Absentee ballots must be returned to the Gorham Town Clerk’s Office at 75 South Street or your polling location by 8 p.m. on November 3.
If you’re not registered to vote yet, it’s not too late. Here in Maine, you can register anytime leading up to the election, including in person on Election Day.
For additional information about voting, visit the Secretary of State’s website here: www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/information-about-voting.
Beyond casting your own ballot, you can also remind others about the importance of voting. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and our greatest civic duty. It’s important to know what’s on the ballot, and to weigh in on the decisions that will impact Gorham, Maine and the nation.
Please also feel welcome to reach out to me at Parnell.Terry@legislature.maine.gov if you have any questions or concerns, or need assistance. I can best represent our community by hearing from you about issues both in our district and across the state.
Rep. Terry is serving his first term in the Maine House and represents part of Gorham. Terry is a member of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee.