AUGUSTA — A snowstorm that dumped more than a foot of snow on much of the state and knocked out power to thousands of people could also impact Tuesday’s election.
The Secretary of State’s office is working in conjunction with Central Maine Power and Emera Maine to assess if any polling sites have been affected by power outages, and to plan for alternate voting locations should they be required.
Over 122,000 customers throughout the state remained without power Monday afternoon.
“The important thing to remember is that we use paper ballots,” Secretary of State Matt Dunlap said in a statement. “As long as people can mark their ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day, their vote will be counted. In the meantime, folks should plan on being able to vote tomorrow while power crews work to restore electricity to the affected areas.”
If any polling sites remain in the dark Tuesday morning, voters will be notified with a sign on the door directing them to alternate locations. Online listings of alternate polling sites will be available.
Rockland announced Monday afternoon that its elections would be held at the council chambers in the rear of city hall on Pleasant Street rather than at the regular location — the recreation center — because there is no power.
In Waldo County, residents of some towns would be voting by candlelight — or the less romantic-sounding LED lights — according to Dale Rowley, the director of the Waldo County Emergency Management Agency. He said that his agency was still waiting to hear back from municipalities without power or backup power in their polling places, including Jackson, Montville, Morrill, Northport, Troy, Unity, Swanville and Waldo, to figure out their plan for Election Day.
Some polling places in Waldo County may not be heated or lit normally, but it shouldn’t get in the way of the democratic process, Rowley said, reiterating that casting a paper ballot does not require electricity.
Outages also have caused Mount Desert officials to move their polling place from the Somesville Fire Station to the Town Hall meeting room at 21 Sea Street in Northeast Harbor.
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