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Absentee voting has begun in Gorham for the school referendum budget validation and the state primaries. On Election Day, June 9, Gorham residents can vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Gorham Middle School, Great Falls Elementary School and the Shaw Gym in Gorham Municipal Center.

SCHOOL BUDGET VALIDATION

Voters will be asked to approve the Gorham School Committee’s spending plan for the next fiscal year beginning July 1. The school board approved a $60.5 million budget on April 8, a $2.9 million increase from this year. The Town Council approved a slightly pared-down version of $60.4 million on May 12. If approved, the proposed school budget combined with the municipal budget would increase the tax rate from $14.80 to $16.04 per $1,000 of valuation.

A sample school ballot is available on the town’s webpage and a breakdown of the budget prior to the Town Council’s $50,000 reduction is available on the Gorham School District website.

Some Gorham voters recently expressed confusion on Facebook over having received absentee ballots in the mail before the Town Council approved the budget on May 12. Town Clerk Laurie Nordfors said this occurs every year because state law requires the town to make absentee ballots available 30 days before Election Day, which usually falls before the Town Council approves the budget. The final budget numbers will be posted in each voting booth and in each ward on June 9.

STATE PRIMARIES

Registered Democrats will vote in the U.S. Senate primary, where Graham Platner is highly likely to be named the nominee to oppose Sen. Susan Collins in November. Both parties will rank their choices for governor.

Republicans Joshua Pietrowicz of New Gloucester and Ron Russell of Kennebunkport will face off in the primary to take on incumbent Chellie Pingree for the District 1 U.S. Representative seat. Pingree, of North Haven, is not facing a Democratic primary challenge.

Republican Harry White of Scarborough is running unopposed for the Maine Senate District 30 seat, and Eleanor Sato of Gorham and Sophia Warren of Scarborough are facing off to be the Democratic nominee.

The primaries for Maine districts 108 and 109 are uncontested, with Democratic incumbent Parnell Terry and Republican challenger Kelly Dearborn running in 108 and Republican Diana Kushnar and Democrat Seven Siegel running in 109.

JUDGE OF PROBATE, SHERIFF AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Democrats in Gorham will choose between incumbent Jacqueline Sartoris of Brunswick or challenger Valerie Adams of Pownal for district attorney in District 2, Cumberland County. Incumbent Paul Aranson from Scarborough is running uncontested for Cumberland County judge of probate and current sheriff Kevin Joyce from Standish is the sole candidate for his role.