City Clerk's Office | 389 Congress Street | Room 203 | Portland, Maine 04101 | (207) 874-8610
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Portland Residents

1.Where do I register to vote?
2.What do I need to bring with me to register to vote?
3.Where do I vote?
4.I moved since I last voted; what do I do?
5.I changed my name since I last voted; what do I do?
6.What if I can't go to the polls on Election Day?
7.What if I don't understand the question on the State ballot?
8.Why are there names of people on the voting list who no longer live in Portland?
9.My parent is deceased but the name still appears on the list; why?
10.I am going away to college, how do I get a ballot so I can vote while I'm gone?
11.I am in the military, stationed outside of the country, how can I register to vote and get an absentee ballot?
12. What happens to my absentee ballot after I vote and return it to the City Clerk's office?
13.What time are the polls open?
14.I’m 17, can I vote?

1. Where do I register to vote?

Save time and register at City Hall well before Election Day. Check polling place locations by Clicking here.

2. What do I need to bring with me to register to vote?

Picture identification and proof of residency. Any of the following may be used to prove residency.

The following are examples of what are not acceptable as proof of residency:

3. Where do I vote?

You can look up your polling place here: Click here

4. I moved since I last voted; what do I do?

Fill out a change of address form at City Hall before Election Day or go to your new polling place on Election Day and see the Deputy Registrar. Save time; make the change at City Hall well before Election Day.

You can look up your polling place here: Click here

5. I changed my name since I last voted; what do I do?

Fill out a change of name form at City Hall before Election Day or go to your polling place on Election Day and see the Deputy Registrar. Save time; make the change at City Hall well before Election Day.

6. What if I can't go to the polls on Election Day?

Call the City Clerk's office at 874-8677 or write to the City Clerk at 389 Congress Street within 90 days of the election, and we will send the ballot to you. You may also vote absentee at the City Clerk's office during the 30 - 45 days prior to the election. Call to make sure absentee ballots are available.

7. What if I don't understand the question on the State ballot?

The Secretary of State provides a factual booklet to every municipal clerk prior to the election. It explains the questions on the State ballot. Or, you can go to the Secretary of State's web site at http://www.state.me.us/sos/cec/elec/elec.htm.

8. Why are there names of people on the voting list who no longer live in Portland?

We cannot remove the name of a voter from the voting list without a written request from the voter, notification from a Registrar of Voters in the new community where the voter has moved and registered or without going through proper procedure under the National Voter Registration Act. When voters move to a new location and either don't register to vote there or the Registrar fails to notify us, we have no way of knowing that the voter has gone until four years or two federal elections have passed. If you have information that could help up in maintaining the accuracy of the list, please call 874-8677 or e-mail.

9. My parent is deceased but the name still appears on the list; why?

Your parent may have passed away in another community or State, and because he or she was no longer a resident of Portland, we did not receive the death certificate. We cannot remove the voter's name without proof that the voter is no longer a resident of Portland. If you have information that could help up in maintaining the accuracy of the list, please call 874-8677.

10.I am going away to college, how do I get a ballot so I can vote while I'm gone?

You may call or write the City Clerk's office, and we will mail the ballot to your school address, or an immediate family member may request in writing that we mail you a ballot at school. Parents visiting you may also request your ballot in writing and bring it to you. Send it back with your parents after you have voted and have them return it to us, or you may put two stamps on the envelope and return the ballot by mail.

You may also download an application and mail or fax it to us at (207)874-8612. Applications are available 90 days before the election. Download an application here.

11. I am in the military, stationed outside of the country, how can I register to vote and get an absentee ballot?

You may call or write the City Clerk's office, and we will mail the ballot to wherever you are receiving mail, or an immediate family member may request in writing that we mail you a ballot. For more information about your voting rights, go to www.fvap.gov.

You may also download an application and mail or fax it to us at (207)874-8612. Applications are available 90 days before the election. Download an application here.

12. What happens to my absentee ballot after I vote and return it to the City Clerk's office?

The City Clerk's office holds the absentee ballots until Election Day when they are opened, run through the machines and counted like all the other voted ballots.

13. What time are the polls open?

The polls open at 7:00 a.m. and remain open until 8:00 p.m.

14. I’m 17, can I vote?

If you are 17 and will be 18 by the November election, you may vote for candidates in the State Primary Election in June of each even-numbered year. You must enroll in a party in order to vote for a candidate on the State ballot.