BIDDEFORD — Absentee ballot applications are now available in Biddeford for city residents looking to vote remotely in November’s state referendum and the municipal general election.
Ballots may be requested by calling 284-9307 or visiting the Biddeford City Clerk’s office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Biddeford City Hall.
Residents can also request absentee ballots online at maine.gov/cgibin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl
Absentee voting gives Biddeford residents an opportunity to cast a ballot without going to the polls on Election Day. Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person at a voting place.
There are four questions to be decided by voters statewide in the referendum election including approving or disapproving a gambling casino or slot machines in York County, health care expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, authorizing $105 million in bonds for highways, bridges, ports, railroads, aviation, transit, and trails, and establishing a time limit for the state to pay off unfunded liabilities from experience losses in the Maine Pension System.
In the Biddeford Municipal Election, voters will elect seven of eight candidates running for positions on the Biddeford School Committee including incumbents Dennis Anglea, Crystal Blais, Dominic Deschambault, Anthony Michaud, Karen Ruel, Lisa Vadnais. Newcomers Vassie Fowler and Jerry Tremblay also area seeking seats on the School Committee.
Alan Casavant is unopposed in running for his fourth consecutive term as Biddeford mayor.
For Biddeford City Council, Ward 1 Councilor Michael Swanton is running against challenger Kathleen Russell, in a rematch from the 2015 election.
In Ward 2, Councilor John McCurry Jr. faces opposition from William “Bil” Moriarty, a former Biddeford School Committee member.
Incumbent Biddeford Councilors-at-Large Marc Lessard and Laura Seaver are unopposed in the election, as are incumbent ward councilors Stephen St. Cyr (Ward 3), Robert Quattrone, Jr. (Ward 4), Victoria Foley (Ward 5), Norman Belanger (Ward 6) and Michael Ready (Ward 7).
Ballots for absentee voting will also be available for area residents that are serving in the armed forces or stationed overseas.
Voters do not need to have a specific reason or be unable to vote at the voting place on Election Day in order to request an absentee ballot.
To be eligible to vote in Maine, a resident must be 18 years old (or will turn 18 by Election Day), be a United States Citizen and live in the area in which they want to cast a ballot.
Biddeford’s actual absentee ballots will be distributed the week of Oct. 9 and must be returned by mail or in person at the city clerk’s office by 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017.
No absentee voting ballots will accepted from Friday, Nov. 3 through Monday, Nov. 6.
On Election Day, all Biddeford voters regardless of whatever ward they reside in, will be able to cast ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at Tiger Gym at the Biddeford High School on Maplewood Avenue.
— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com.
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