Mainers begin casting ballots on pivotal Election Day

Nov. 8—Election Day in Maine appeared to begin smoothly Tuesday morning, and turnout has been heavy among voters who are casting ballots in everything from the statewide governor's race to local races and questions about spending.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows started the day in Kennebunk where voting started at 6 a.m. and said she will be visiting polling places across the state throughout the day.

"Things seem really smooth," she said at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland around 9:20 a.m. "There have been no hiccups reported so far across the state. Our clerks are very well trained and very well prepared. They've been working nights and weekends to get ready for this day."

She predicted a turnout of 70% across the state, higher than for the 2018 midterm election but less than in 2020 presidential year. Absentee voting has been "significant," she said.

"Every vote is carefully counted, so if you've already submitted your absentee ballot in the mail, you're all set," she said. "If you still have your absentee ballot, all ballots must be received by 8 p.m. when the polls close."

Statewide and southern Maine results will be posted at pressherald.com as the votes are counted.

EARLY TURNOUT IN PORTLAND

At Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Yvonne Marmet cast her ballot early in the morning before she went to work on Tuesday. She was retired but got a job in retail to help with rising costs due to inflation. She supported former governor Paul LePage because she appreciated his conservative approach to government spending and the economy.

"What we've worked and put away for, poof," said Marmet, 58.

The governor's race was top of mind for Michael Elovitz as he cast his ballot first thing Tuesday at Merrill Auditorium. He said he is alarmed by the direction of the Republican party and those who deny election results without evidence.

"I voted for Janet Mills," said Elovitz, 40. "I think Paul LePage is atrocious and scary for the state. I think she's doing more."

Elovitz works as a chef and saw the busy tourist season in the Old Port. He is concerned about the environment, but he opposed Question E because of the boost tourists give to businesses. That question would restrict the number of passengers who can disembark from cruise ships to 1,000 per day in an effort to reduce congestion and pollution. (The group that put that question on the ballot no longer supports it instead promoting a compromise that aims to reduce carbon pollution from ships while maintaining jobs.)

"It's been a good summer and fall with people coming into Portland," he said.

Ken Tarr consulted with friends who work in the restaurants before he cast his ballot at Reiche Elementary School in Portland on Tuesday. He voted no on Question D, which would raise the city's minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2025. It would also eliminate the tip credit or sub-minimum wage for tipped workers, a proposal that has industry supporters on both sides.

Tarr, who works as an occupational therapist, said he heard from his friends that the change wasn't necessary or sustainable.

"For the most part, a lot of small businesses are already paying a minimum wage and protecting their employees," said Tarr, 29.

David Schwartz, 39, wore his "I Voted" sticker as he walked out of the Woodfords Club on Tuesday morning. Fair wages are one of his top concerns, and he decided to support Question D because he wants to see pay go up.

He said he has friends and family who are struggling to make ends meet, and he hopes increasing the minimum wage over time would lead to fairer pay and benefits for them.

"I have a lot of friends who are working multiple jobs," said Schwartz, who is a musician.

Kathryn Ackermann cast her ballot at Reiche Elementary School in Portland on Tuesday. She voted for Gov. Janet Mills because she supports access to abortion.

"I think it should be between a woman and her family and her doctor," said Ackermann, 63.

She also felt concerned about the number of referendum questions on the Portland ballot this year. She considered them individually and thought about voting "yes" on a couple, but she ultimately voted no on all 13. She doesn't want to get rid of the referendum process and thinks it can be a useful tool, but she said she would like to see a "a more measured approach" and a higher threshold to get questions on the ballot.

"In the past, I have really liked the referendums because I felt like they put things to the forefront that needed to be," she said. "But I think the process has been exploited."

She worried in particular about the strong mayor form of government proposed in Question 2, a system she thought would be too politicized.

"I think it would be nuts to have a strong mayor," she said. "It would be like a pendulum going back and forth."

Just down the block on Myrtle Street, a voter pulled her car up to the curb and got out to return her absentee ballot in the Portland City Hall drop box.

Polls were just opening across the state, but the traffic here started early. O'Brien said 75 people had lined up by 6:45 a.m.

"Turnout has been very brisk already," he said.

TOWNS EXPECT HEAVY VOTING

In Cape Elizabeth, early turnout was very heavy with all of the 40 voting booths filled and more than 25 people in line waiting to get ballots.

Town Clerk Deborah Lane said 3,700 of the town's 8,800 registered voters had already cast absentee ballots before Tuesday. She said she expects that by the end of the day, about 5,800 voters will cast ballots.

In addition to races for political offices, voters are being asked whether they want to spend $116 million for new elementary and middle schools and for a renovation of the town high school.

It was equally busy in Cumberland Tuesday morning, even though nearly half of the town's 6,650 registered voters had already cast absentee ballots before Election Day, Town Clerk Tammy O'Donnell said.

The line to vote stretched outside of the town office set aside for voting when the polls are opened this morning at 7 a.m., O'Donnell said.

As in Cape Elizabeth, school spending is a major issue in Cumberland and North Yarmouth, where voters are being asked to spend $73.9 million to to purchase land and build a new, prekindergarten through second-grade school. The bond would also include money to renovate the Mabel I. Wilson School.

In North Yarmouth, early-morning turnout was heavy, and Town Clerk Debbie Grover said she predicted 80% of voters in the community of 3.800 would cast ballots.

A total of 251,788 Mainers took out absentee ballots and 224,674 of them submitted ballots as of Monday afternoon. Voters who have absentee ballots can still submit them at their town offices or in a secure ballot drop boxes before 8 p.m. tonight. Or, they can hold onto the ballot and just vote in person instead.

For more information about voting in Maine, go to the Secretary of State's voter information page.

RANGE OF RACES, REFERENDUMS

Tuesday's election ranges from the statewide governor's race to local select boards, school boards and ballot questions.

Incumbent Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, is running for re-election against former two-term Republican Gov. Paul LePage and independent Sam Hunkler, a retired Beals physician and political newcomer. Ranked-choice voting will not be used in this election.

U.S Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, is seeking her eighth two-year term representing Congressional District 1 and running against Republican Ed Thelander, a former Navy Seal and political newcomer.

In the northern half of the state, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, is seeking reelection in the 2nd Congressional District and facing challenges from Republican Bruce Poliquin, who was unseated by Golden in 2018 in the nation's first ranked-choice election for Congress, and independent Tiffany Bond.

All 186 seats in the Legislature also are up for grabs Tuesday. Democrats currently control both chambers, with 22 of 35 seats in the Senate and 76 of the 151 seats in the House. The party that controls the Legislature will set the policy agenda and choose constitutional offices, including the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, who oversees state elections.

Voters have a lot of local issues to decide as well, especially in Portland, where 13 separate referendum measures are on the ballot along with school board and City Council candidates.

Portland voters will decide five citizen initiatives, ranging from further restricting short-term rentals to increasing the minimum wage to $18 an hour and eliminating the subminimum wage for workers who earn tips. Portlanders also will consider making sweeping changes to their city government by amending its charter. Proposed amendments include switching from a council-manager government to a strong mayor, and allowing the school board to draft and send its budget directly to the voters without first seeking council approval.

This story will be continue to be updated.

Staff Writer Edward Murphy contributed to this story.