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Election Information

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Voter Registration

Requirements for registering to vote in Sabattus:

  • You’re a U.S. citizen
  • You live in Sabattus
  • You’ll be at least 18 years old before or on election day

Pre-registration

You may pre-register to vote if you are 16 or 17 years old, and meet all of the other eligibility requirements to vote. You will automatically be registered to vote on your 18th birthday.

 

You’ll need to update your registration when:

  • You move
  • You change your name
  • You change your political party preference
  • You haven’t voted in the past four years

The process to update your registration is the same as the process to register for the first time. You can update your registration online or by coming to see us at the Town Office.

Proof of Identity

The following documents are acceptable proof of identification for the purposes of registering to vote:

  • Government document or credential with photo ID (i.e. driver’s license, State ID, valid U.S. Passport, military ID, ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe)
  • Government ID document/credential without photo (i.e. certified birth certificate or signed Social Security card)
  • An official document that shows name and address of voter (i.e. eligibility for public benefits, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck)
  • Student photo ID from a state-approved public or private school or institute of higher education in Maine
  • Verified unique identifier (Maine driver’s license number or last four numbers of Social Security Number)

Proof of Residency

You may offer documentation of any of the following which the Registrar of Voters may consider in determining whether you have established residence in a particular municipality in Maine:

  • A direct statement under oath of your intention to reside at a particular place;
  • The location of any dwelling you currently occupy;
  • The place where you have registered your motor vehicle (if you own the vehicle);
  • Your current income tax return or other tax document showing your residence address;
  • The residence address where your mail is received;
  • The residence address on your current hunting or fishing license;
  • The residence address on your driver's license or state identification card;
  • Your eligibility for public benefits based on residency; or
  • Any other documentation that you may have (e.g., a utility bill with your residence address) showing objective facts that tend to indicate your place of residence.

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting allows you to cast a ballot without going to a voting place on Election Day.

Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person at a voting place on Election Day. You don't need to have a specific reason or be unable to vote at the voting place on Election Day to receive an absentee ballot.

1. Complete an absentee ballot application to get a ballot;

Contact the municipal clerk in the town or city where you are registered to vote. Uniformed Service and Overseas voters will request an absentee ballot directly from the Secretary of State, Division of Elections.

You can make a telephone request for your own ballot, which will be mailed to the address you provide to the clerk.

You can request your own ballot electronically using the Secretary of State’s online absentee ballot request service. 

You can make a written request by completing an absentee ballot application. Additionally, you can obtain a ballot for an immediate family member in this same way. A ballot will be mailed to the voter directly or to an immediate family member making the request. Your municipal clerk can tell you who is considered an immediate family member under the law.

NOTE: Ballots obtained by the voter or an immediate family member do not require witnesses, unless the voter receives assistance from another person in reading or marking the ballot.

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2. Fill out and deliver the ballot back to the municipal clerk using the provided envelope.

Absentee ballots may be requested beginning 2 months before Election Day, and until the 3rd business day prior to the election, unless special circumstances exist. Make your request early to allow enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot or vote in the presence of the clerk is by close of business on the Thursday prior to the election.

Yes. You may vote absentee at the clerk's office as soon as absentee ballots are available. Absentee ballots are available at least 30 days before the election at the municipal clerk's office. You don't need to complete an application if you vote in person at the clerk's office. The deadline for absentee voting in the presence of the clerk, unless special circumstances exist, is the Thursday before the election.

To be counted, voted absentee ballots must be received by the municipal clerk by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

If you plan to use the U.S. mail to receive or return your absentee ballot please note the following U.S. Postal Service advisories for mail delivery:

  • Request your ballot no later than 15 days prior to Election Day
  • Return your ballot no later than 7 days prior to Election Day

The USPS has assured us that all absentee ballots returned to your municipal clerk by mail at least 7 days prior to Election Day are guaranteed to be delivered in time to be cast and counted in the election.

If you plan to return your ballot outside of the suggested USPS delivery window, we encourage you to drop off your ballot in person or via an absentee ballot drop box at your municipal office (if available) no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day; or plan instead to vote in person at the polls on Election Day.

When you vote by absentee ballot in the State of Maine, your municipal clerk will take receipt of the ballot and verify that it can be accepted. Once they do so, they will mark your name in the voter system as 'AV' for 'absentee voter.' Thus, when they print out the incoming voter list just before Election Day, your name will already be checked off with the indicator marking that you have already voted via absentee ballot, and you will not be eligible to receive a ballot if you show up to vote in person.

On Election Day, some voters are still dropping off their absentee ballots and the town office is still receiving some by mail. Absentee ballots are processed in batches throughout the day and the list of those newly received absentee ballots is shared with each polling place for each batch, so if the absentee voter tries to vote in person, they will not be able to do so. (And conversely, if they vote in person before their ballot arrives that day, their absentee ballot will be rejected).

If you submit your absentee ballot request early, you will be among the first to receive your ballot. Printed ballots are sent out to the clerks 30 days prior to Election Day and they begin to mail them out shortly thereafter. If you submit your request during the 30-day period prior to Election Day, you will likely receive your ballot within 7-10 business days, on average. If you have any concerns about receiving your ballot, contact your municipal clerk directly. Do not submit more than one request for your ballot.