FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2012
Contact: Megan Sanborn
(207) 441-0501

Secretary of State Charles E. Summers, Jr. Encourages Citizens to Participate in June Primary Election

Online absentee ballot request service now available

AUGUSTA, Maine – With the June 12, 2012 Primary Election 3 months away, Secretary of State Charlie Summers reminds voters that it is easier than ever to become engaged and participate in our election by using the Online Absentee Ballot Request Service.  This June’s Primary is a candidate election with US Senate, US Congress, State Senate, State House, and a limited number of county offices on the ballot.

Maine law makes it easy to cast an absentee ballot.  Citizens don't have to be out-of-town or have any other reason to take advantage of this easy way to vote at a time that is most convenient.   Any Maine registered voter may submit an electronic absentee ballot requests using the Online Absentee Ballot Request Service up to 2 days prior to election day, The ballot will be mailed to the voter as soon as printed ballots become available, no later than May 11th.


The service provides three ways to request an absentee ballot:

  1. Voters may fill out and submit their request form online;
  2. Voters may fill out a request form online, print it and sign the completed form, then mail the signed form to their municipal clerk; or,
  3. Voters may print a blank request form, fill it out by hand and mail the completed form to their municipal clerk.

Having absentee ballot requests available 3 months before the primary ensures that Mainer's have ample time with their busy schedules to request a ballot in order to participate in our state's primary election, Secretary Summers said. I want to make sure each and every Maine citizen is able to participate in our democratic process regardless of where they are in the state, country, or world. I believe that this easy, accessible, timely service will help our state in achieving this goal for the June 12th primary.

The Online Absentee Ballot Request Service is available at:  www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl information about the primary election, including the list of candidates is available at:  http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming.html

The deadline to request an absentee ballot online is June 7, 2012.