FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2014
Contact: Matthew Dunlap
207-626-8400

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap Announces Launch of Enhanced Online Absentee Ballot Request Service

Absentee Ballot Request Service enhanced to respond to State of Emergency

AUGUSTA - Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap announced today that the Online Absentee Ballot Request Service for the November 4th General and Referendum Election is now available.

The service has been enhanced to facilitate requests from emergency aid workers and displaced voters, should a State of Emergency occur that requires aid workers or voters to relocate. This option will be available only during a State of Emergency and offers functionality similar to requests from Maine residents who are stationed in the military or residing in another country.

The Online Absentee Ballot Request Service is available at: www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl

All Maine municipalities are required to accept electronic requests for absentee ballots. Municipal clerks will process the requests and mail out absentee ballots when they become available.

The service allows any registered Maine voter to request their absentee ballot by:

• Completing and submitting their request form online;
• Filling out the request form online, then printing and signing the completed form to mail to their municipal clerk; or,
• Printing a blank request form to fill out by hand and deliver to their municipal clerk.

The service is available now for voters to submit their requests; however, ballots will not be sent out until 30 to 45 days before the election. Once a voter has submitted their request using the online service, they will be sent an automated email notification containing the information they submitted and a confirmation number. When the request is processed and accepted by their municipal clerk, they will be sent an additional status notification.