Town of Canton, Maine

Voting

MRSA Title 21-A

MRSA Title 30-A, Chapter 121

A recent change now allows anyone to obtain an absentee ballot

• Are you registered?
• Are you enrolled?
• How to vote
• Write-in vote
• If you make a mistake
• The Procedure
• Guardrail area & Voting Booths
• Violations and Penalty Provisions

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  Are you registered?
  
  

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  Are you enrolled?
  
  

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  How to vote
  
  

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  Write-in vote
  If you wish to vote for a person not on the ballot, write the Name and Municipality of Residence in the blank space provided at the end of the list of candidates for that office. In primary elections, stickers may be used.
  
  DON'T FORGET: You must also mark the square to the left of the name you write in!
  
  

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  If you make a mistake
  BE CAREFUL: Changes in your vote must be made before your ballot is deposited. If you wish to change your vote and have already marked the ballot speak to the Warden or an Election Clerk to obtain a new ballot.
  
  

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  The Procedure Voters shall:
  
  
  1. State their name and, upon request, their street address to an election clerk;
     
     
  2. Have their name checked on the voting list and be allowed to enter the guardrail area;
     
     
  3. Receive one ballot of each kind to which they are entitled;
     
     
  4. Proceed to a voting booth and mark the ballot(s) without delay;
     
     
  5. Fold the ballot(s) in the same manner as received and leave the booth with all ballots, whether marked or unmarked;
     
     
  6. Proceed directly to the ballot box and deposit the ballot(s), whether marked or unmarked, and leave the area within the guardrail.
  
  

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  Guardrail area & Voting Booths
  
  1. A voter may not remain within the guardrail enclosure for more than 10 minutes and may not occupy a voting booth for more than 5 minutes.
     
     
  2. A voter may not leave the guardrail area until all ballots provided to the voter have been deposited into the ballot box. Once a voter deposits the ballot(s) and leaves the guardrail area, the voter may not reenter.
     
     
  3. A voter may request assistance from another person (including election officials) in reading or marking the ballot due to physical disability, illiteracy or religious faith.
     
     
  4. A voter may be accompanied only by a person of 17 years of age of younger into the voting booth, except when being assisted.

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  Violations and Penalty Provisions
  The following acts are crimes under Title 21-A which, if knowingly committed, are punishable by fines and imprisonment:
  
  
  • Tampering with ballots or voting lists, opening or breaking a seal on a sealed box or package of ballots or a voting list, tampering with a voting machine or device, removing a ballot from the voting place on election day, or attempting to do any of these, with the intent of changing the outcome of any election, except as permitted by law; or
    
    
  • Voting by using the name of another, voting knowing that you are not eligible to do so, voting twice at the same election, or attempting to do any of these; or
    
    
  • Causing a delay in the registration or enrollment of another, the delivery of an absentee ballot or application, or attempting to do either of these, with the intent of preventing a person from voting or rendering that person's vote ineffective; or
    
    
  • Soliciting votes from another person knowing that they are under guardianship because of mental illness, assisting another person in voting knowing they are not eligible to vote; or
    
    
  • Assisting or offering assistance to another in marking their ballot without being requested to do so by the warden or ward clerk or showing that person's marked ballot to another with the intent to reveal how they voted; or
    
    
  • Interfering with a voter attempting to cast a vote or attempting to influence a voter in marking their ballot; or
    
    
  • Handling, witnessing or notarizing an absentee ballot, if you have been paid to do so or are a candidate, or a member of a candidate's immediate family, or forging the name of another on an absentee ballot, return envelope or application; or
    
    
  • Registering in two voting districts, or making a false statement or oath concerning qualifications for registration or enrollment; or
    
    
  • Influencing or attempting to influence a voter, or engaging in other unauthorized activity, within 250 feet of the entrance of the voting place or registrar's office on election day; or
    
    
  • Displaying or distributing advertising material intended to influence a voter within the clerk's office or on public property within 250 feet of the entrance to the clerk's office for the 45 days preceding an election; or
    
    
  • Knowingly violating any other provision of the election laws.