FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Nov. 3, 2014
Contact: Kristen Schulze Muszynski
207-626-8404

Polling places may change if power outages persist

The snowstorm that left 10-14 inches on much of central Maine this weekend has resulted in widespread power outages that could potentially impact polling places on Election Day tomorrow, Nov. 4.

The Secretary of State is working closely with Central Maine Power and Emera to assess if any polling places have been impacted by the power outages, and to help plan for alternate voting locations or alternate power sources, if necessary.

The important thing to remember is that we use paper ballots said Secretary of State Matt Dunlap. As long as people can mark their ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day, their vote will be counted. Our town clerks are working diligently to make sure that polling locations are up and functional tomorrow, and any adjustments that need to be made will be made public as broadly as we can. In the meantime, folks should plan on being able to vote tomorrow as normal while power crews work to restore electricity to the affected areas.

If any polling places are still without electricity by the time polls are set to open on Election Day, voters will be notified with a sign on the door directing them to an alternate location, according to Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn. Town and city clerks in the affected areas will also reach out to local media outlets to announce the alternate location. Dunlap advises voters to check with their town or city clerk to see if their scheduled polling place will remain open.

As of 1 p.m. Monday, Central Maine Power was reporting 19,480 outages in Knox County; 18,823 in Lincoln County, 5,614 in Hancock County; 6,581 in Penobscot County; 3,084 in Kennebec County; 1,358 in Oxford County; 347 in Franklin County; and 223 in Cumberland County.