The presidential election is driving high voter turnout across Maine.

Election workers from Portland to Lewiston to Madison reported steady traffic from the moment polls opened. Some people waited in line for more than an hour to register or cast their ballots, although others sailed quickly through their polling places after the morning rush dissipated.

Voters will also decide one of Maine’s two U.S. Senate seats and both of its seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. One of the closest House races in the nation is happening in the 2nd Congressional District.

All 186 seats in the Maine Legislature are also up for grabs. The state ballot also includes five questions, including whether the official state flag should be changed to look more like the simpler, original version from 1901. And voters will decide local elections and municipal ballot questions on topics ranging from turf fields to hazard pay for workers to school building projects.

We’ll be gathering information all day, all across the state. Here’s what you need to know this morning:

• Find your polling place
• What time do polls close? When will we get results? We’ve got answers to your Election Day questions
• We explain the 5 state ballot questions Mainers will vote on
• Read up on all our election coverage before heading to the polls

6:30 p.m.: Some Portland voters waited hours

PORTLAND — Outside Merrill Auditorium, a line stretched up the block nearly reaching city hall. Todd Morse, who is running for City Council in District 1 stood outside greeting voters.

“I feel good about the race, win or lose,” said Morse. “It was a good campaign and I’m really encouraged by the turnout. That’s just really encouraging for democracy.”

Hannah Mason, 19, voted for the first time on Tuesday. She said she waited three and a half hours in line at the auditorium to vote.

“It was worth the wait, I would wait double that,” she said. “I was actually so excited to be voting I didn’t use my phone hardly at all the whole time I was waiting. I don’t know how I did it.”

Mary Taddia, 55, said she hadn’t voted in the City Council elections. She was more focused on the races for Senate and the presidency.

Taddia said she had voted for Cornel West, even though, she said, she knew he probably wouldn’t win.

“My mother-in-law is Palestinian, so Gaza was a big issue for me,” said Taddia.

– Grace Benninghoff, Portland Press Herald 

6:10 p.m.: Record turnout expected in Bowdoin

BOWDOIN — Residents filed in to Bowdoin Central School as Town Clerk Melanie Page rushed from table to table, assisting the volunteers.

In 2020, the town received 1,889 ballots. Page said she expects this year’s numbers to top that.

About 1,500 people had cast their votes in the school’s gymnasium by 5:30 p.m., about 250 mail-in ballots were turned in, and “it’s not even close to 8 p.m.,” Page said.

A couple of people in line smiled at Page and thanked her for her work.

Alisha Springer, 37, said the event is always well-organized.

“We always come at the end of the day because we have to come after work,” Springer said. “Especially the last three (presidential elections), the turnout has been more.”

Ken Cochran, 65, said Page and the town do a great job setting up the polling station.

While in line for the voting booth, he said he was considering which party to vote for.

He said he doesn’t agree with Vice President Kamala Harris’ policies and he doesn’t support Former President Donald Trump, so he’d rather cast his vote for a third-party candidate.

“I’m just tired of … the campaign bashing on all sides in almost all of the races,” he said.

– Morgan Womack, Portland Press Herald

6 p.m.: Strong voter turnout all day in Central Maine

WATERVILLE — As Election Day winds down, voter turnout in central Maine is still looking strong, said Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.

“More than one in three voters had already voted prior to Election Day, and today we are seeing strong voter turnout everywhere we have been,” Bellows said. “In central Maine, we were in Pittsfield earlier today, and voter turnout looked very strong there.”

In her visits to polling places today, Bellows stopped by Buxton, Windham, Falmouth, Portland, Lewiston, Durham and Bowdoin. The secretary checked in with voting headquarters in Augusta, and is rounding out the night in Bangor and Hermon.

Not only has voter turnout been strong, but so has same-day voter registration, Bellows said.

“We’re seeing new voters from all walks of life, including a lot of young voters who are registering for the first time,” Bellows said.

Maine has claimed its spot among the states with the highest voter turnout, reigning in the third highest turnout in 2020’s presidential election and the number one spot in the 2022 midterm. This year is looking just as promising, Bellows said.

“I am feeling very confident we’ll have yet another banner year for voter turnout,” Bellows said.

– Hannah Kaufman, Morning Sentinel

5:45 p.m.: Portland voters come out for city council seats

PORTLAND — By 5 p.m., the line at Reiche Elementary School extended just outside of the gym, where voting was taking place. A steady trickle of voters made their way into the building.

Catherine Nekoie and Jess Falero, both running for city council in District 2 and At-Large, respectively, stood outside the door shaking hands and talking to voters. Nekoie said she had been there since 10:30 A.M.

“It’s been very exciting, people are smiling, I just love it,” said Nekoie.

Falero and Nekoie embraced and chatted as they stood beside one another greeting voters. The two are not competing for a seat but have very different platforms on homelessness and housing issues.

Falero said they had split their time between Reiche and the Italian Heritage Center throughout the day.

“I’m excited to see how it all plays out, with rank choice voting you just never know,” they said.

Katie Schweizer, 24, said she had voted for Wes Pelletier and Jess Falero in the District 2 and At-Large council races. She said she didn’t rank any other candidates. She said she supported Falero because they seemed more agreeable and willing to compromise than other candidates. She liked Pelletier because of his support for renters.

“He was talking about advocating for renters and that’s pretty sick. I literally just finished grad school and I rent,” she said.

– Grace Benninghoff, Portland Press Herald 

5:40 p.m.: Reproductive rights top of mind for many

SOUTH PORTLAND — At the South Portland Boys and Girls Club polling location in the Ferry Village neighborhood, Barbara Everett said she was “praying for sanity.”

“I think women are going to save this country,” said Everett, who voted for Harris. “Rights are being taken away from our younger sisters.”

Abby Pratt, 18, voted in her first presidential election, and she chose Harris over Trump.

“I voted for Kamala,” Pratt said. “Reproductive rights was a big thing for me.”

Breanna Wiggins said she also voted for Harris, and “liked what she stands for.”

Harris also secured the vote of Kitty Pike, who described Trump as “offensive and terrifying.”

– Joe Lawlor, Portland Press Herald 

5:30 p.m.: Future voters watch democracy in action

HALLOWELL — Robin Asch can’t count how many times she’s been to a polling place for an election. She walked — skipped, actually — out of Hall-Dale Elementary School’s gymnasium Tuesday with a blue sticker proudly placed on her left shoulder.

Except Asch is only 14, and the blue sticker on her shoulder said “Future Voter.”

Asch has gone to the polls with her parents, Chris and Erica, for every election she can remember, even the ones with only a couple of items on the ballot. She asks them questions about voter ID or registration and everything else — which Chris, a historian, almost always answers by pointing to Reconstruction, Asch said.

“Dinner starts with us talking about our days, and then inevitably shifts to something history-related,” Asch said.

“Which is fun,” Chris responded, pausing for a second. “Right?”

Other “future voters” played on the Hall-Dale playground as the sun set. The playground was positioned perfectly for a post-voting play session, just feet away from the polling place exit.

Garrett Sylvia told his children they could play for a few minutes after he turned in his ballot. He expected them, at ages 1, 4 and 7, to behave much worse inside than they did.

Sylvia said he was particularly concerned about former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about an “enemy within,” a phrase Trump has used to refer to several high-ranking Democratic politicians, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff of California.

“I thought it was important to do what I can to not have Trump in office,” he said.

– Ethan Horton, Kennebec Journal

5:05 p.m.: High turnout overwhelms Belgrade ballot box

BELGRADE — Belgrade’s ballot counter has malfunctioned all day because of the volume of ballots, says Town Clerk Mary Vogel.

The town has one ballot counter for the town’s 3,023 voters who make up a large portion of the town’s 3,400 year-round residents.

“The ballots are filling up on the inside of the machine and causing problems. The ballots are not dropping when they are inserted into the machine,” Vogel said. “In hindsight, maybe we should have another machine, but who knew it would be like this? We didn’t expect it.”

In addition to the high volume of voters, Vogel said around 10 students between the ages of 16 and 17 signed up early to pre-vote. It encouraged her to ask students at Messalonskee High School if they would be interested in volunteering at the polls.

Since the students are under 18, they can’t handle the ballots, but they can direct voters through the polling center and help them register to vote, all while earning college credit.

At the polls were student volunteers Emma Rackleff, 16 and Sophia Stuart, 14, who wanted to help out for a good cause.

If they could vote, they would do so for former president Donald Trump, they said.

“Probably Trump because my family swings that way,” said Rackleff.

On the other side of the polling center were Rowan King, 14, and Tyana Gagne-Sengendo, 17, who would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, if they could.

King says she doesn’t want to vote Trump because he is a convicted felon and Gagne-Sengendo says she thinks Harris would handle the country’s pressing issues better than Trump would.

“I think of who is going to cover the intercepting issues better and I think Kamala does that and she reflects what I think as an American and she is for women’s rights,” Gagne-Sengendo said.
Even if Harris loses, Gagne-Sengendo says she paved the way for African-Americans and women.

“I think some people are still apprehensive to vote for a woman, but she’s entered a space where we (Black women) weren’t before and that is impactful,” she said.

– Emily Duggan, Kennebec Journal

5 p.m.: Gorham voters weigh nice vs necessary

GORHAM — Scott and Andrea Chadburn were talking about the state ballot questions as they emerged from Gorham Middle School at about 2 p.m. on Election Day.

“I mean, why change the state flag?” said Andrea, who considers change for the sake of change a costly proposition. “I see no point.”

Andrea was surprised to hear her husband admit that he had voted for the new flag.

“I failed a school test as a kid because I couldn’t draw it,” Scott said with a sly grin. “But give me a pine tree, a star – I can do that! So yeah, I say change it.”

The 47-year-old construction industry salesman said he voted against the other ballot questions because they sounded nice but unnecessary, especially during a tough economy.

But the Chadburns wholeheartedly supported Gorham’s $12.7 million school building projects, which they consider both nice and necessary. They don’t want their eighth-grade daughters to have to eat lunches on the floor of a crowded high school cafeteria like neighboring kids did.

“Having enough room to learn and eat lunch isn’t asking for a lot,” Scott said. Andrea chimed in: “On that, we definitely agree.”

– Penelope Overton, Portland Press Herald

4:55 p.m.: Skowhegan voters chime in on Maine’s 2nd District candidates

SKOWHEGAN — Darren Files, 50, of Skowhegan, voted for the Libertarian ticket in the presidential election and Republican Demi Kouzounas for U.S. Senator.

But for U.S. Representative for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, Files went with the incumbent, Democrat Jared Golden.

“I think he’s as neutral or as middle-of-the-road as you can get between the two options,” Files said while leaving the polls, “and that’s what I usually lean towards.”

Trinity Bonneau, 25, said he was most interested Tuesday in the presidential election and a slate of three state bond questions. Bonneau, who voted for former President Donald Trump, also chose the Republican candidate in the congressional race, Austin Theriault.

“Both have their pros; both have their cons,” Bonneau said of Theriault and Golden. “And it’s a matter of hoping for the best and seeing where the country goes.”

– Jake Freudberg, Morning Sentinel

4:50 p.m.: Standish residents find ways to contribute

STANDISH — As the sun began to set, a steady stream of voters arrived at the Standish Municipal Center to cast their ballots.

“It’s been terrific,” said Town Clerk Mary Chapman, who had logged 20,000 septs on her FitBit by 4 p.m. “It’s been really busy since we opened at 6 a.m.”

Chapman said voters had returned more than 3,200 absentee ballots by 3 p.m. and more were still being delivered. That’s not bad for a small town with 7,200 active voters, she said.

First-time voter Michelle Sanchez, 45, said after voting that she was still feeling “iffy” about the experience. She felt a lot of pressure to vote and wasn’t thrilled with either candidate, but ultimately decided to vote for Trump because he says how he feels and “didn’t do too bad of a job last time.”

Sanchez, a nursing student, said she decided to vote despite uncertainty about her options because she wanted to set a good example for her 9-year-old daughter.

As voters filled out their ballots in the bays where emergency vehicles are usually stored, two Democratic poll watchers observed from the side of the room.

Linda Sanborn, a retired doctor and former state legislator, said she decided to become a poll watcher because she felt “like I needed to do something.”

“I wanted to contribute somehow in a positive way. I think this election cycle is super important and I wanted to contribute in a reasonable way,” said Carl Booth, who was also on his first poll-watching shift.

Sanborn and Booth said they hadn’t seen any issues and everyone seemed to be getting in and out without any delays.

“People are friendly and it’s pretty chill,” Sanborn said.

– Gillian Graham, Portland Press Herald

4:15 p.m.: Parties’ hostility an issue for Biddeford voters

BIDDEFORD — John Collins, 70, stood outside the city’s polling place holding a sign with a simple, handwritten message: “TRUMP IS A FRAUD VOTE BLUE!”

He stood just next to a sign that barred “POLITICAL ADVERTISING OR CAMPAIGNING BEYOND THIS POINT.”

“This is where I’m going to get the audience,” Collins said.

As he spoke, a handful of drivers honked their horns and waved. Others shouted and flashed obscene hand gestures with windows rolled down.

“Nothing I’m doing here is going to change the outcome of the election, but no one person is going to be able to do that anyway,” Collins said. “If I can make (Trump supporters) a little less comfortable in their beliefs that they hold, just for a minute, then that’s something.”

Guy Vance, a Biddeford resident, parked next to Collins and said he appreciated the sign. He said he planned to vote for Harris.

“I can’t stand Trump,” Vance, 65, said. “I don’t like when someone thinks he’s great.”

Vance said he almost skipped voting this year, because he felt there was too much hostility among both campaigns, but he felt he had to act against Trump.

Collins told Vance not to let the “perfect be the enemy of the good.”

– Daniel Kool, Portland Press Herald

3:50 p.m.: Scarborough voters question cash

SCARBOROUGH – Money is on the minds of voters this year. The state ballot includes three bond questions, and voters in Scarborough also considered bonds for police and fire equipment, as well as land conservation.

David Hamilton, 38, said he mostly rejected the spending questions. One question would add $6 million to a fund dedicated to land conservation, for example, and he said he would like to see the town seek dollars from private sources instead of taxpayers.

“I think they spend too much,” he said. “I don’t think we need to borrow more.”

John and Lili Staiger said they did not support a nearly $1 million bond for body and cruiser cameras for police; they thought the town should look for that money in the department’s existing budget.

“They should cut some fat on their own budget,” John Staiger, 32, said.

Jason Burnell, 43, did not want to say how he voted. But he said the economy and public spending was top of mind for him.

“Our taxes are high enough,” Burnell said. “You have to ask if we really need it.”

– Megan Gray, Portland Press Herald

3:40 p.m.: Ranked-choice offers relief from two-party system in Greene

GREENE ­—  Maya Comeau went into the voting booth unsure of whom she would vote for.

However, due to ranked-choice voting, she decided to put Libertarian Chase Oliver in the top spot.

“From there, it went a little downhill,” Comeau, of Greene, said of the remaining elections and ballot initiatives. “I’m really mostly excited that the election is going to be over.”

Comeau said she did research throughout the election season, studying each candidate’s platform, and though she “knows (Oliver) isn’t going to get the vote,” she liked what he had to say.

“That’s why I voted for him,” Comeau continued. “But the two-party platform— if we could get away from that, it would be wonderful. If we could go back to the way that they used to do it— like whoever came in second, that was your vice president— it would be kind of cool. That would make them have to work together and I feel as though we’d have a little bit more push and pull. We’d have a little more compromise.”

Marion Bourgoin said she put Trump down as her top vote because she expects him to close the U.S. borders to immigrants and to improve the economy. The voting experience was fulfilling and exciting, she said.

“My god, I’m still shaking,” Bourgoin said, adding that Austin Theriault and Demi Kouzounas also got her vote. “We’ve got to get rid of Angus (King). He’s been there long enough and it’s just time for him to go.”

When Jody Cabral walked out of the polls, he didn’t want to share his thoughts on the elections, but there was one subject he felt passionate about: the Maine state flag issue.

“I went for the old style,” Cabral said.

– Joe Charpentier, Sun Journal

Eliot Morrill Cole submits her mom’s ballot at the East End Elementary School on Tuesday. (Pictured with mom, Hannah Morrill, and stuffed animal, Yia Yia) Meg Robbins / Portland Press Herald

3:35 p.m.: Mainers too young to vote get real-life lesson in civic responsibility

PORTLAND — On a normal Tuesday, 7-year-old Eliot Morrill Cole would be in school.

“Usually there’s balls all over the floor and I hear sounds of sneakers squeaking,” she said, referring to the gymnasium at East End Elementary School in Portland.

On Election Day, it’s the polling center for the first precinct of the first district in Portland, which includes Munjoy Hill.

Eliot is among a group of kids across Maine today getting one of their earliest real-life lessons in how democracy works.

“I think this is the first time she has an awareness of the election, so I thought it would be fun to see it, and to see her neighbors,” said Eliot’s mom, Hannah Morrill, who remembers accompanying her parents to the polls when she was younger, too. “I knew she’d love it.”

Eliot, who brought her four-foot tall stuffed axolotl-slug Yia Yia with her, said this was not her first time at the polls. “I did it when I was a baby, but I colored in the votes today.”

The best part of the process was helping her mom put her ballots in the counting machines.

“I liked the way it took it in, out of my hands,” said Eliot, who had a roughly eye-level view.

Hannah Morrill, and her partner Jim Cole, said they both voted for Kamala Harris for president. Eliot unbuttoned her cardigan to reveal a Harris-Walz T-Shirt.

“I would have voted the same way either way, but as a dad of a daughter, it feels especially important,” Cole said.

The wait time at East End Elementary School was up to an hour and fifteen minutes around lunch time, and it was even busier in the morning, Ward Clerk Kate McCarty said.

While some voters will treat themselves to takeout and prepare to watch early results roll in tonight, Eliot has a very specific post-poll plan.

“I’m going to go the mall, and I’m going to go to get new earrings at Claire’s,” she said.

– Meg Robbins, Portland Press Herald

3:25 p.m.: No losers in Skowhegan flag debate

SKOWHEGAN — A proposal for a new state flag is among the hot topics for Maine voters on Election Day. And at the Somerset County Courthouse in Skowhegan, everybody is a winner.

Along with the American flag, the courthouse’s flagpole flies both flags — the current flag featuring the state seal on a blue background and a flag with a variation of the proposed pine tree and star design.

County Administrator Tim Curtis said both flags have been flown outside the courthouse since before he started working for the county in July 2023. He said he thinks flying the current state flag and the proposed “new” flag, based on a design used from 1901 to 1909, was a suggestion of one of the county commissioners.

As for what will happen to the pair of flags if either “yes” or “no” wins on Question 5, Curtis said Somerset County will follow whatever the state requires.

“I would certainly bring that up to the commissioners,” Curtis said.

– Jake Freudberg, Morning Sentinel

3:20 p.m.: Colby College students get on the bus to vote

WATERVILLE — A white minibus pulled up outside Thomas College, shuttling students from nearby Colby College to cast their votes in Waterville.

Emerging from bus, many of the students cited reproductive rights as a deciding factor in the presidential race. Mariella Laria, 19, of Massachusetts, said she was voting for Vice President Kamala Harris because of her policies on abortion rights as well as her general character.

“I think she is a good person,” Laria said. “Also, the rule of law — I don’t think we should have a felon as a president.”

Another Colby student — Connor Ransom, 21, of Poolsville, Maryland — was volunteering at the Waterville polls. Ransom said he believes it is important to help make sure the polls run smoothly.

“Most people who volunteer are retired,” Ransom, “so it’s helpful to have young people who are more energetic and can move heavy things like voting machines around.”

Ransom pointed out that a lot of races, especially the local ones, can be decided by a few votes.

“People forget how important voting in local elections is,” he said. “They can come down to less than a 100-vote difference.”

— Mairead Levitt, Morning Sentinel

3:10 p.m.: TV ads, personal connections help Winthrop voters choose

WINTHROP – Barbara Clark, 80, said she renewed her passport in preparation for the election, just in case.

As the sole Kamala Harris supporter in her family, Clark said she voted Tuesday afternoon to cancel out her partner of 20 year’s vote for former president Donald Trump.

“Trump makes me sick. I wish he would disappear, and we would never have to hear his name again. Anything would be better than him, but I agree with all of Harris’ plans, especially on immigration. It’s great to help people,” Clark said.

Of the 4,721 registered voters in Winthrop, 962 voted by 1:45 p.m., and 2,000 people returned their absentee ballots according to Town Clerk Sarah Quimby.

Several voters in Winthrop did not want to share who they voted for, but said they voted to exercise their right and to see change in the government.

Martha Hodgkins voted for Trump, as she did in the previous elections, and U.S. House of Representatives candidate Austin Theriault.

“I decided (who to vote for) by watching the ads on TV. My son used to race cars, too. I voted all Republican,” Hodgkins said.

The choice was easy for Marc Fortin, who voted for his former students.

As a retired social studies teacher, basketball and hockey coach for Winthrop High School, Fortin had state Rep. Tavis Hasenfus, D-Winthrop, on the sports field and town council newcomer candidates Zach Steele and Chris Lavigne in the classroom.

“It’s always neat to see them on the ballot. I knocked on doors for Tavis last time, which was a new experience,” Fortin said.

Fortin voted for Kamala Harris and Jared Golden along with Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, whom he thinks could be governor one day.

Barbara Alexander, 78, was the sole poll watcher at the Winthrop polls.

Alexander said poll watching is a way she can be involved with the voting process because at her age, it’s not as easy to knock on doors as it is to sit at the polls.

She watches for the Maine Democratic Party and is stationed wherever the party chooses her to be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“It’s a wonderful event to watch. There is a huge turnout in Winthrop. It’s wonderful to see democracy in action. It’s special. If you have traveled anywhere internationally outside of the U.S., you know how special it is,” she said.

– Emily Duggan, Kennebec Journal

3 p.m.: Local spending front and center in Freeport

FREEPORT — Honks echoed through downtown Freeport Village as a group of three residents with multiple Trump signs, a Trump inflatable and one Jay Finegan sign stood on the sidewalk outside of Town Hall.

Peter Anzuini, 77, said that there are a lot of “insane” policies on the Democratic side. He believes that the whole democratic process and the Democratic Party have gone off a ledge.

Primarily, he is concerned about spending. He said that Melanie Sachs, the incumbent for Freeport’s House seat, isn’t conservative enough with spending.

“She is primarily responsible for the increased taxes that we’re going to have to put up with,” he said.

Consistent with his beliefs, Anzuini also voted against the referendum question to buy 22 Main St. next to town hall.

“How much more tax can Freeport residents support?” he said. “I don’t think they can support much else.”

– Times Record Staff

2:40 p.m.: Positive atmosphere at Augusta polls, despite election tension

AUGUSTA — Polls were busy first thing in the morning in Augusta, and steady throughout the day, despite the fact that nearly 45% of active registered voters cast their votes before Election Day.

By Tuesday, the city had already received 5,175 absentee ballots, out of around 12,000 active registered voters who voted in recent elections, according to Haley Gauvin, director of communications for the city. Voters were also lined up to cast their votes in person at 7 a.m. when the polls opened.

By mid-day the number of voters coming in waned, though candidates working the polls said they expect it to pick back up in the evening, when residents get out of work.

Bobby-Jo Bechard, a candidate for an at-large Augusta City Council seat, said this election is so important that her three adult sons, who’ve never voted before, voted.

“I’m sure part of it was I’m running for office, and they see how passionate I am about it, but I also think they realized this is a very important election, and that every vote does matter,” Bechard said.

Kathryn Mastricolo, a volunteer with Marcus Emerson’s state House of Representatives campaign, said most voters coming to the polls Tuesday seemed friendly, pleasant, upbeat and in a good mood, in contrast to some national media reports she’s seen about the contentious election.

– Keith Edwards, Kennebec Journal

2 p.m.: Young people flock to polls in Saco, Biddeford

SACO — Rep. Lori Gramlich stood outside Thornton Academy Tuesday afternoon, welcoming voters.

The crowds, she said, have been constant.

Gramlich, a Democrat, is running for reelection as the State House representative for Old Orchard Beach.

“There have been a lot of young people,” Gramlich said. “A lot of young women.”

Saco resident Brianna Taylor said that as a woman, she was proud to vote for Kamala Harris.

“It’s the most critical election in our history and in our lives,” Taylor said. “The stakes are incredibly high.”

In Biddeford, college students showed up in droves to vote.

According to volunteer Heather Wakelin, a majority of college students were from the University of New England.

The crowds this morning, she said, were “wild.”

“We did not let up,” Wakelin said. “It’s been an awesome turnout.”

– Sydney Richelieu, Courier

1:35 p.m.: Civility abounds in Durham

DURHAM — The doors to the Durham Community School were flanked by House 98 candidate Kilton Webb and House 20 candidates Bettyann Sheats and Dustin Ward, thanking residents for coming out to vote.

Sheats, a Democrat, said voting was steady throughout the morning and Ward, an independent, said civility, refreshingly, was abundant.

“People have been wonderful, polite,“ Sheats said.

Amy Crosby was at the polls with her 4-year-old daughter Scout, determined to get her vote in for Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I think it’s an important election with education and women’s rights. These really are her future,“ Crosby said motioning to Scout perched on her hip and adding that a great candidate for the first female president may just be in sight. “And getting a former teacher for vice president? Amazing, right?“

Why should everyone come out to vote? Crosby asked. “Your future depends on it.“

– Joe Charpentier, Sun Journal

1:30 p.m.: Dozens of first-time voters register in Monmouth

MONMOUTH —“It’s an unprecedented turnout,” said Kent Ackley, an independent running for State House representative for Litchfield, Monmouth and Wales as he stood outside the polls Tuesday.

Ackley said he’s been at the Monmouth Recreation Center all morning and hasn’t seen the parking lot empty since the polls opened at 8 a.m.

“I’ve never seen this many people show up to be heard. There are a lot of important decisions on the line. I know a lot of people who previously thought their vote didn’t count and have signed up to vote for the first time,” he said.

Sarah Jones, the election clerk for Monmouth, said at least 70 residents registered to vote for the first time by noon.

“This is by far the most (registered voters) that I’ve seen. They all realize it’s important. It’s always important to vote, but people feel strongly this time,” Jones said.

Among the newly registered voters was Hannah Demello, 20.

“I wanted to vote for Trump,” she said. “I agree with a lot of the things he wants to change in the government, including lowering taxes.”

– Emily Duggan, Kennebec Journal

1 p.m.:  Ranked-choice ballots puzzle voters in Norridgewock

NORRIDGEWOCK — At Mill Stream Elementary School, kids were at recess playing on the playground while a handful of voters made their way into the gymnasium around 12:30 p.m.

The Maine School Administrative District 54 board of directors had discussed closing the school — the town’s usual polling place — for Election Day but decided against it. Instead, the school resource officer and an additional Somerset County sheriff’s deputy were assigned to the school during the day.

Town Manager Richard LaBelle, who also is the town clerk, said he was aware of reported threats made to other schools in Maine but was confident in the safety measures in Norridgewock.

“We don’t have concerns about our election security and safety,” he said.

Turnout has been steady, and most voters have quickly and quietly made their way in and out to vote, LaBelle said. About 700 absentee ballots were issued, and only 11 were not returned as of late Tuesday morning. About 500 more had voted as of 12:30 p.m.

“We’re not noticing the tensions here at the polling place that we have observed before today,” he said.

The biggest challenge of the day so far, LaBelle said, has been the ranked-choice voting system in the presidential and congressional elections.

“We are spoiling an usually large number of ballots,” LaBelle said. “I don’t know if people are trying to be strategic, or largely they just don’t understand. But it remains an obstacle.”

Poll workers were also making sure voters had all of their ballots counted.

Voters had three separate ballots: one, double-sided, for the general election, one for state and county referendum questions and one for a school district referendum question. LaBelle noticed the count displayed on the polling place’s machine for the general election and state referendum ballots was off by one from the number of ballots handed to voters — 1,049 instead of 1,050. He said any discrepancies will be reconciled after polls close and reported to the state.

– Jake Freudberg, Morning Sentinel

12:45 p.m.: Westbrook poll workers combat election angst with positivity

WESTBROOK — Could a cartoon raccoon help Westbrook ward off the feeling of division that has engulfed so much of the United States? Election officials think it’s worth a shot.

Local artist Flyn Costello designed Westbrook’s “I Voted” sticker. Photo by John Terhune

City Clerk Angela Holmes said the critter adorning the city’s custom “I Voted” sticker, designed by local artist Flyn Costello, is just one part of a larger effort to associate Tuesday’s election with civic pride – not partisan strife.

“It’s not by accident that there’s this positivity happening here,” Holmes said as poll workers offered friendly greeting after friendly greeting to each voter entering the Westbrook Community Center.

At noontime, the line to vote stood at just under 30 minutes, and poll workers expect the wait time could reach 90 minutes during the peak evening hours. But workers were doing their best to make the vibe something approaching festive – each ringing of a “first time voter” handbell earned applause from the crowd waiting to cast their ballots.

Now that early voting is so common (half of Westbrook’s estimated 12,000 voters have already returned absentee ballots, according to Holmes), many of those who brave the line on Election Day do so precisely because they like the feeling of being engaged with their community.

“I think there’s something fun about voting on Election Day,” said Owen Conly. “It feels participatory.”

But he said that sentiment only goes so far compared to the “dread” he feels at the thought of a possible Donald Trump victory.

Norma Manning declined to share her vote for president, except that she considered them “the lesser of two evils.”

She was more enthusiastic about the poll workers who helped her cast her ballot.

“They’re doing a fabulous job,” she said. “They’re doing the job to the best they can do – with the situation that they have got to work with.”

– John Terhune, Portland Press Herald

12:30 p.m.: On a long Election Day, snickerdoodles are key

PORTLAND — A misplaced three-ring hole punch is all it takes to gum up the works on Election Day.

Nobody was missing from the registered voter look-up books at the Woodfords Club in Portland. Voter names were listed alphabetically, like they should be, and divided equally to form two lines meant to speed up the voting process. But the binder holes were at the bottom of each page instead of the top, slowing the poll workers who had to comb through the books to verify each voter’s registration.

By 8:30 a.m., lines of voters snaked through the ballroom-turned-polling-place, past the leather chairs and brick fireplace in the lobby, onto the pillared porch, down the stairs, and up the Woodford Street sidewalks. Some people groused; others shared granola and carrots with line neighbors. A few hours later, election workers had started to get the hang of the upside-down system.

“Even a 30-second or minute-long delay per voter adds up,” said Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who visited the Woodfords Club on Tuesday morning on her Election Day tour. “But if our worst problem today is a three-hole punch in the wrong place, I would say the state of our democracy is strong.”

Bellows said she didn’t know of any Election Day problems so far. Her morning visits to Buxton, Windham and Portland had all shown about the same trends – a high rate of absentee voting, a strong early-morning rush and a sizable number of same-day voter registrations.

Ward clerk Kelcy Engstrom predicted the lines would taper off in the late morning as the usual before-work rush ended and the poll workers shuffled the voter registration books around to make them easier and faster to read.

Election Day is always chaotic, she said. Her solution? Snickerdoodles.

“There’s always something,” Engstrom said, eyeing the box of cookies that Bellows brought for election workers. “But we manage them. Especially if those are snickerdoodles.”

– Penelope Overton, Portland Press Herald

12:15 p.m.: Over one-third of voters in Madison cast absentee ballots

MADISON — Town Clerk Cheyenne Stevens said her office issued more than 1,000 absentee ballots and had received all but 28 back by noon Tuesday. Madison has just under 5,000 residents and nearly 2,800 registered voters.

“We haven’t had a single issue this morning, which is amazing,” said Stevens, who is overseeing a presidential election for the first time.

For Tyler Avery, 20, Tuesday was the first time he has voted in a presidential election.

“I’m excited,” Avery said.

Avery, who has lived in Madison his whole life, said he planned to vote for former President Donald Trump. He also said he’s a fan of Republican Austin Theriault, who is challenging Democrat U.S. Rep. Jared Golden in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

Lori Knowlton, 61, also said she was voting for Trump. Knowlton, who was with her partner, Darren Richards, 48, said she did not vote in the 2016 presidential election and voted for President Biden in 2020. The presidential election was the top concern for the two.

“I don’t love his personality or how he can be condescending and rude sometimes,” Knowlton said of Trump. “But I think about how the country was when he was the president. Our life and our household was all much better. And I also think that, as a country, we are much safer in the world when he’s president.”

Randy Wyman, 65, said he was “pretty sure” about his vote in the presidential election but had not made up his mind when he came to vote at 11:15 a.m.

“I’m going to make my decision when I get in the booth,” he said.

– Jake Freudberg, Morning Sentinel

12:10 p.m.: Voting in Portland? Be prepared to wait in line

Kelcy Ingstrom, the ward clerk working the polls at Woodfords Club, checks on people in line on Election Day in Portland. Ingstrom said the line was long but that it was on the morning of Election Day 2020 as well and died down in the evening. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

PORTLAND – The line to vote has been out the door of the Portland Exposition Center all day, circling around the exterior of the building around 9 a.m. and getting shorter before noon.

At 11 a.m., some voters said it took them about 45 minutes to cast their ballot. Other polling places in the city saw similar waits, especially for those who are registering to vote for the first time – more than an hour at the Italian Heritage Center, more than three at Merrill Auditorium.

Betsy Bevis, 31, said she is sure to vote in every election, no matter whether the presidency is on the ballot. Still, she said this year in particular has a lot on the line.

“I would say I am really excited to vote for Harris, other than her Israel-Palestine policies. I’m really anti her policies on that,” said Bevis. “That sort of made me less excited to vote for her. But there are lots of other reasons, like women’s rights and abortion rights are really important to me. She’s fighting for basic human rights – in our country, at least.”

– Sophie Burchell, Portland Forecaster

12 p.m.: Not everything will run perfectly on Election Day. Still, U.S. elections are remarkably reliable.

WASHINGTON — On Election Day, some voting lines will likely be long and some precincts may run out of ballots. An election office website could go down temporarily and ballot-counting machines will jam. Or people who help run elections might just act like the humans they are, forgetting their key to a local polling place so it has to open later than scheduled.

These kinds of glitches have occurred throughout the history of U.S. elections. Yet election workers across America have consistently pulled off presidential elections and accurately tallied the results – and there’s no reason to believe this year will be any different.

Elections are a foundation of democracy. They also are human exercises that, despite all the laws and rules governing how they should run, can sometimes appear to be messy. They’re conducted by election officials and volunteers in thousands of jurisdictions across the United States, from tiny townships to sprawling urban counties with more voters than some states have people.

It’s a uniquely American system that, despite its imperfections, reliably produces certified outcomes that stand up to scrutiny. That’s true even in an era of misinformation and hyperpartisanship.

“Things will go wrong,” said Jen Easterly, the director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

None of these will mean the election is tainted or rigged or is being stolen. But Easterly said election offices need to be transparent about the hiccups so they can get ahead of misinformation and attempts to exploit routine problems as a way to undermine confidence in the election results.

– Associated Press • Read the full story here

11:45 a.m.: Presidential race driving high turnout

FALMOUTH — Jim Davis, 49, has been wrestling with his decision in the presidential race for months.

He declined to share who won his vote. But as a small business owner, he said economic policy and the regulatory environment matter to him a lot. He also considered the viewpoints of the women in his life – his wife and daughter.

“I’m going to say it was a very difficult vote,” said Davis. “The most difficult I can recall. And I’m still not convinced I made the right choice.”

For 87-year-old George Stowell, the choice was easy. He voted for former President Donald Trump.

“If you’ve ever been in the service, you’d know how they do things – with an iron fist,” said Stowell, wearing an Air Force cap. “And that’s how he does things.”

Terry Skillin, 70, said he wrote in U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia for president. Manchin recently registered as an independent but previously ran as a Democrat. Skillin wrote in former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, a Republican who has criticized Trump, as his pick for vice president.

“They aren’t necessarily about their party,” said Skillin. “They’re more about unity, good ideas, reaching across the aisle.”

– Emily Allen, Portland Press Herald

11:30 a.m.: Lockdown lifted at South Portland community center after hoax threat at nearby school

SOUTH PORTLAND — The South Portland Community Center, the polling place for about 9,000 city residents, was locked down by police for about 15 minutes Tuesday morning after a threat was made against South Portland High School, which is across the street.

The threat was one of several incidents of “swatting” at schools in Maine, or false reports intended to provoke an emergency response. Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for Maine State Police, said Tuesday that these calls were not credible.

“There is presently no known threat to the students, staff or public at this time,” Moss said.

South Portland Police said on Facebook they were responding to the threat, which “appears to be a hoax.” The school was locked down and all students and employees were safe, police said. Police asked that residents be “patient” as they investigate the threat.

People wait in the lobby of the South Portland Community Center on Tuesday after the building was placed on lockdown by South Portland Police. People were not allowed to enter or leave the community center for about 15 minutes after South Portland High School, which is next to the community center, received a threatening call. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

While police were at the high school searching cars and buildings, no officers were seen at the community center, although nearby Highland Avenue was briefly closed.

Mayor Misha Pride, who was greeting voters at the community center, said there was “some frustration” from people who could not leave and had places to be, but people were generally calm.

By about 11:20 a.m., students were texting their parents to say they expected to be released any minute. The community center was back open for voting. The lines had dwindled to dozens, slowing for the first time all morning.

– Ray Routhier, Portland Press Herald

11:20 a.m.: Sanford voters are concerned about political division

SANFORD — As the morning mist cleared outside the Sanford High School gymnasium, a young girl posed for a photo with her dad’s “I Voted” sticker.

Ann Andrew, 70, said in the parking lot that she cast her ballot for Harris because she believes the vice president is the best person for the job.

“I think the other candidates are completely unqualified and should not be anywhere near power,“ she said.

Abortion rights, as well as the economy, were her top concerns.

“I just could not tolerate seeing a couple of misogynistic pigs in power,“ she said, adding that she’ll be glad once the election is over. “I don’t get particularly stressed because I’ve seen enough things come and go that I know no matter the outcome, things will work out.“

Jason Lapierre, a 45-year-old government employee, said he also planned to vote for Harris.

“I have a lot of gay people in my life, I am in recovery, so I just kind of vote for the party that affects the people and myself the most,“ he said. “The issues that the Democrats talk about tend to ring true with what I’ve experienced. Whether they fix them or not is one thing, but at least they’re talking about them.“

The ongoing political division was top of mind for a lot of voters.

Max Hunt, 30, said he voted for Harris because he felt the country needs “more unity, less division.”

“It needs to be more about repairing the country,” he said.

Lindsay Leavitt, 39, a hospitality worker, would not say who she voted for, but said she cast her ballot with the community’s best interest in mind.

“I believe that I need to take advantage of the fact that I’m even allowed to do this,” she said.

– Hannah LaClaire, Portland Press Herald

11:10 a.m.: Maine’s 2nd District could decide which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives

LIVERMORE FALLS — Stephen Groomes still hadn’t decided who would get his vote in Maine’s hotly contested 2nd Congressional District when he stepped in line at the Livermore Falls fire station Tuesday.

Asked if he planned to vote for Democrat U.S. Rep. Jared Golden or Republican challenger Austin Theriault, Groomes said, “I don’t know about that one. By the time I get to vote it will be there,” and he’d be ready to mark the ballot.

Voters in Livermore Falls also considered whether the town should purchase a new cruiser for the Livermore Falls Police Department. Henry Pile said he supported the spending.

“If they need a new vehicle, we should get them a new vehicle,” Pile said.

– Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

11 a.m.: Auburn’s Erik Brakey quits Maine Senate so he can vote in New Hampshire

AUBURN — State Sen. Eric Brakey resigned his seat Tuesday so he could vote in New Hampshire on Election Day.

In a video posted on social media Tuesday morning, the 36-year-old Republican senator can be seen walking down a typical New England street as he tells viewers, “I just resigned my seat in the Maine State Senate, completing my move to the state of New Hampshire, and I’m now walking to the polls to go register to vote and cast my ballot” in New Hampshire.

Brakey said in the video that he planned Tuesday to vote “for a free New Hampshire.”

Moments before posting the video, Brakey submitted his resignation letter to Maine State Senate President Troy Jackson. He said almost a year ago he planned to move to New Hampshire after the election.

Democrat Bettyann Sheats and Republican Bruce Bickford, both experienced State House hands, are each seeking election to the Brakey’s seat in 20th Senate district, which includes Auburn, New Gloucester, Poland and Durham.

– Steve Collins, Sun Journal

10:45 a.m.: Lewiston city clerk assures voters that election process is secure

LEWISTON — City Clerk Kathy Montejo said her office has received more questions this year as elections have become more closely scrutinized.

Her team does everything they can to assure voters that the process is secure, she said. She said she reminds voters not to apply issues seen in other states to local elections in Maine, since states have different election rules. She also said since elections are conducted at the municipal level in Maine, rather than the county level like some states, volunteers are often recognizable to voters.

“It provides a level of trust,” she said. “People see family members or co-workers, and you don’t necessarily see that in other parts of the country.”

Nearly 8,300 residents had voted early, in a city of about 30,000 registered voters. Montejo said nearly all of those early votes were processed on Friday by 30 volunteers at City Hall.

Outside the polls, voters said they turned out for the obvious reason – the presidential election – but some said they also wanted to vote for down-ballot candidates who have more direct impact on local communities.

“It’s unbelievable the money spent,” said Claire Bourgoin. “And we’re collecting food for the homeless at the local parish.”

– Andrew Rice, Sun Journal

10:40 a.m.: Voters consider school buildings, including a $95 million project in Cape Elizabeth

CAPE ELIZABETH — In addition to the presidential race, a $94.7 million school project was a main attraction for Cape Elizabeth voters on Election Day.

Michael and Kate Woodworth, both 40 and medical researchers for the federal government, brought their 5- and 6-year-old children to the polls. They moved to town in 2022 and said they are still trying to find their place in local political and social circles.

“I was surprised there was so much opposition to the school project,” Michael Woodworth said as his wife signed a petition to make it easier for a loved one or the court to remove guns from someone in crisis. “I’m not sure how many young voters we have: are we a majority or a vocal minority? I guess well find out.”

When asked about their presidential choice, Woodworth noted they were both doctors who worked for the federal government. When asked if that meant they were voting for Harris, Woodworth looked both ways, nodded, and then hurried off so his children made it home in time to make it on the school bus.

– Penelope Overton, Portland Press Herald

10:15 a.m.: Abortion is top of mind for voters

YARMOUTH — Chloe Cady, 18, voted for the first time on Tuesday at Yarmouth High School.

Her classes were all being held online Tuesday so the city could use the school gym as a polling place. Polling staff at Yarmouth High School said they had received roughly 1,100 ballots by 10 a.m.

“It feels urgent,” said Cady of the election. “It feels like I’m voting for democracy.”

Cady and her mother, Ellen Cady, 52, both voted for Harris. They cited abortion and women’s rights as one of the key issues behind their decision, and said they felt Harris was the least divisive candidate.  Ellen Cady said this election has felt more chaotic than others.

“It’s been hard at times to kind of quell these feelings,” she said.

Frank Gianattasio, 65, also voted for Harris. “I never agreed with Roe v. Wade, but I didn’t like having the rug pulled out,” said Gianattasio. “I think if you go too far, you’re going to put women at risk.”

– Emily Allen, Portland Press Herald

10:10 a.m.: Attorneys general urge a ‘peaceful transfer of power’

The attorneys general from 47 states, including Maine, and three U.S. territories are urging people to remain peaceful and to preemptively “condemn any acts of violence related to the results (of the presidential election).”

The statement, released Tuesday, was signed by chief prosecutors from every U.S. state except Indiana, Montana and Texas. Attorneys general from the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands also signed.

“We call upon every American to vote, participate in civil discourse and, above all, respect the integrity of the democratic process,” they wrote. “Violence has no place in the democratic process; we will exercise our authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it.”

Fears of election violence persist nearly four years after Trump supporters rioted at the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop the election certification. Rather than condemning the violence during his campaign, Trump has celebrated the rioters, pledging to pardon them and featuring a recorded chorus of prisoners in jail for their roles in the Jan. 6 attack singing the national anthem.

– Associated Press

9:50 a.m.: Candidates vie for Portland school board, City Council seats

PORTLAND — There were lines out the door at East End Community School in Portland just before 10 a.m. Some voters said it took 45 minutes to an hour before they got into the gymnasium to cast their ballots.

Voters in Maine’s largest city will decide a two-way race for at at-large seat on the school board, as well as several seats on the Portland City Council. A referendum on the ballot could also scale back the rule requiring employers to pay workers at least 1.5 times the minimum wage during states of emergency.

– Drew Johnson, Leader / Sentry

9:40 a.m.: First-time voter in Sidney applauded at the polls

SIDNEY – A steady stream of voters trekked in and out of the James H. Bean School on Middle Road on Tuesday, where 185 people had cast ballots by 9:15 a.m.

First-time voter Haileigh Miller, 19, received applause as she registered. Later, she said she voted for Donald Trump.

“He aligns with my morals,” Miller said. “He’s the best candidate. Going into my 20s, I’m starting to become an adult. Hopefully, I’ll be able to live on my own. Right now, I can’t afford to.”

Miller was with her mother, Melissa Moulton, 48, who said she also voted for Trump.

“We need to make sure that we’re able to afford our lives here,” Moulton said.

Both Miller and Moulton said they voted for Austin Theriault for the 2nd Congressional District, saying he is the best candidate and they share similar beliefs.

Sidney Town Clerk Sara Morey said that 1,604 voters had returned absentee ballots as of Monday night. The town has 3,919 registered voters and at the last census, the population was about 5,000. The voting location was changed from the town office to the school because of the large turnout expected, she said.

“To put it in perspective, we had less than 400 total voters for the (June) primary,” she said.

– Amy Calder, Morning Sentinel

9:05 a.m.: Turnout in South Portland looks ‘closer to what we had in 2016’

SOUTH PORTLAND – Both parking lots at the South Portland Community Center were filled by 8:30 a.m. Tuesday – 90 minutes after polls opened. Dozens of cars were double-parked in the lots. More than 450 people had already voted, said District Four Warden John Hartford, and hundreds more were waiting in line.

Hartford said the early turnout was impressive, considering that an estimated 35% of the city’s residents had already voted early.

“This turnout looks closer to what we had in 2016,” said Hartford, seconds after helping a young man with his ballot. “It’s exciting to see.”

Hartford said a few voters had made mistakes on their ballots and were issued new ones. There are two state ballots this year, with questions on both sides, and there is ranked-choice voting in some races.

Hundreds of people had also showed up early Tuesday at the community center to register to vote, said John McCall, a retired minister and one of volunteers helping people register. Some were first-time voters, while others were people who have recently moved. McCall and the other volunteers said the majority of people did not register with a party.

Emmerson Madsen, 20, voted Tuesday in their first presidential election. Madsen, a media studies student at Southern Maine Community College, said LGBTQ+ rights and civil rights were the issues primarily motivating them to the polls. They registered as a Democrat and voted for Harris.

“It’s exciting but also a little weird, because it’s such a big deal,” Madsen said about voting for president for the first time.

Shaun Madsen, 64, is also a registered Democrat and voted for Harris. She said women’s rights, especially the right to an abortion, were the biggest reasons why.

“The incoming president could have the ability to name one or two justices, so I think we need to vote for a good future,” said Madsen, who works as a med tech at The Cedars in Portland.

– Ray Routhier, Portland Press Herald

Sen. Angus King greets Meghan Kissling outside the polls at Brunswick Junior High School in Brunswick on Tuesday morning. Kissling was passing out flyers about an upcoming comprehensive plan community meeting. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

9 a.m.: U.S. Sen. Angus King casts his ballot in Brunswick

BRUNSWICK – A robust stream of voters moved in and out of Brunswick Junior High and the former Coffin Elementary School next door shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Among those out early were parents with young children, retirees and several Bowdoin College students.

“I wanted to vote in Maine and in person. I thought it would be a good experience,” said Meghan Zitzmann, a Bowdoin senior from Barrington, Rhode Island, voting in her first presidential election. “I don’t have any prediction but I’m hoping (Vice President Kamala) Harris is going to win.”

Also voting early Tuesday was U.S. Sen. Angus King, the independent seeking his third term.

“This is the castle of democracy,” King said shortly after he cast his ballot. “This is where we can make decisions, where we the people actually have the power.”

King is heavily favored against his opponents – Republican Demi Kouzounas, Democrat David Costello and independent Jason Cherry – but said he doesn’t take anything for granted.

“I feel OK, but I never count anything until they are done,” he said. “I mean, I was just telling my daughter I feel like we’ve done everything we could, we didn’t coast, we took it seriously and so I’m looking for a good result.”

King said he had mixed feelings about seeing his name on the ballot for likely the last time. He turned 80 this year and has said this would be his final campaign.

“Yeah, because it is something that I’ve done off and on for quite a while and it’s sort of a bittersweet moment,” he said. “But I’ve still got six years if I’m successful today so don’t retire me too prematurely.”

– Eric Russell, Portland Press Herald

8:30 a.m.: The economy is on the minds of voters

OAKLAND — By 8 a.m. Tuesday, 163 out of 5,053 registered voters had cast ballots at the fire station, according to Town Clerk Jan Porter. Another 2,000 had voted absentee.

Richard Principato, 58, said as he left the polls that he voted for former President Donald Trump for several reasons.

“The biggest thing is the economy, the immigration and our military,” Principato said. “The military loves him a lot better than Kamala.”

Principato said he also voted for Austin Theriault in the race for 2nd Congressional District.

“Jared Golden, he always voted Democratically all the way,” he said.

– Amy Calder, Morning Sentinel

8:25 a.m.: Voter traffic is steady in Gardiner

GARDINER — Peggy Williams was first in line to vote in Gardiner, where about 80 people were lined up when the polls opened. The early birds said they wanted to cast their ballot before going to work.

She arrived around 7:30 a.m. Williams said voting is an important part of our freedoms and planned to cast her ballot for Kamala Harris “to protect our country from tyranny.”

Next in line behind her, Kevin May also came in around 7:30 a.m. to vote before going to work at the shipyard in Kittery. He said he planned to vote for Harris, in part because he has two nieces and he’s concerned about abortion rights if Trump were to win.

Just behind May, third in line, Pete Hersom was voting for Trump because, he said, Democrats have damaged the country and the economy.

– Keith Edwards, Kennebec Journal

8:25 a.m.: China town manager praises ‘phenomenal’ election workers

CHINA — As polls opened at 7 a.m. in the Kennebec County town of China, a line of about 50 voters formed to get into the municipal portable building.

Town Manager Becky Hapgood, wearing a fluorescent vest, helped direct traffic in the parking lot as the line grew and the town’s 13 election workers helped a steady stream of arriving voters.

“The amount of work the town clerk and deputy clerks put in, in the course of preparing for an election, is phenomenal,” said Hapgood, who served as China’s town clerk for more than two decades. “We’re focused on voter integrity. We just want people to come vote.”

The town, which has nearly 3,000 registered voters, would likely see around 85% voter turnout as it has in past presidential elections, Hapgood said. She said the town had received about 1,300 absentee ballots.

The morning was not without hiccups. Around 7:30 a.m., a clerk raced outside to catch a woman who had just voted — the ballot machine indicated she had mistakenly voted for too many candidates in one race. The woman elected to cast the ballot anyway instead of coming back later to vote again.

— Scott Monroe, Morning Sentinel

8:20 a.m.: Here’s what to watch on Election Day in the U.S.

WASHINGTON — Polls opened Tuesday across the nation and Americans cast ballots in the 2024 presidential election.

In a deeply divided nation, the election is a true toss-up between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

We know there are seven battleground states that will decide the outcome, barring a major surprise.

But major questions persist about the timing of the results, the makeup of the electorate, the influx of misinformation – even the possibility of political violence. At the same time, both sides are prepared for a protracted legal battle that could complicate things further.

– Associated Press • Read the full story here

8 a.m.: For voters in South Portland, flag design is a ‘game-time decision’

SOUTH PORTLAND — A long line of voters was already stretching from the front entrance of the Stewart Morrill American Legion Post when poll workers opened the doors at 6:58 a.m. to begin welcoming people inside.

Olivia and Henry Kean were waiting toward the back of the line. The couple is united on most issues, they said, including reproductive rights and climate change. They said they are voting for Vice President Kamala Harris.

But they’re also eager to cast their ballots in a number of state referendum questions, including one to fund restoration work on trails and funding for research and development projects. They’re somewhat divided on Question 5 for a new flag.

“I just don’t care,” Olivia Kean, 30, said with a laugh.

Henry Kean, 32, was torn.  He likes the new design, he said, and they even fly an Old Pine flag in their yard, but he would miss seeing the state seal on the current flag.

“Honestly, I think it will be a game-time decision,” he said.

Crystal Farrington, 31, was most passionate about the presidential race. She is also voting for Harris. She said tensions have been high, and she’s dealing more with election talk in her personal life, including at work and on social media. She worries some people dismiss her as soon as she says she’s voting Harris, and that the animosity might carry over into the aftermath of the election.

“I just hope that this is a safe area for the rest of the week,” she said. “I’m very worried about what happens next.”

– Emily Allen, Portland Press Herald

7:45 a.m.: Waterville expecting high voter turnout for presidential election

WATERVILLE — Heidi Mitchell walked out of the polling place at Thomas College just after 7 a.m. Tuesday, having been one of the first people to vote.

“I voted for Kamala because I want somebody to work for us, the people of America, not the corporate America,” said Mitchell, 53.

Moriah Davis, 26, and her daughter Penelope, 1, exit the Waterville polls just after 7 a.m. Tuesday. Amy Calder/Morning Sentinel

She was one of about 50 voters lined up to vote around 6:45 am.

Longtime election warden Roland Hallee said officials were expecting a voter turnout of about 80% of the approximate 10,000 registered Waterville voters, which is more than the typical 70% for a presidential election. He said 3,700 had voted by absentee ballot.

Security this year is tighter than ever before.

“We have emergency plans in place,” Hallee said.

Moriah Davis, 26, was carrying her 1-year-old daughter, Penelope, as she exited the polls.

“I voted for Harris,” she said. “First of all, I love all of her policies. She’s not racist or xenophobic.”

Davis added that Harris plans to tax the rich and protect people’s reproductive rights, which is important for both her family and her daughter.

“I know she’s got my back,” Davis said of Harris.

– Amy Calder, Morning Sentinel

7:30 a.m.: America reaches Election Day and a stark choice between Trump and Harris

WASHINGTON — A presidential campaign marked by upheaval and rancor approached its finale on Election Day as Americans decided whether to send Donald Trump back to the White House or elevate Kamala Harris to the Oval Office.

Polls opened across the nation Tuesday morning as voters faced a stark choice between two candidates who have offered drastically different temperaments and visions for the world’s largest economy and dominant military power.

Harris, the Democratic vice president, stands to be the first female president if elected. She has promised to work across the aisle to tackle economic worries and other issues without radically departing from the course set by President Joe Biden. Trump, the Republican former president, has vowed to replace thousands of federal workers with loyalists, impose sweeping tariffs on allies and foes alike, and stage the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.

Harris and Trump entered Election Day focused on seven battleground states, five of them carried by Trump in 2016 before flipping to Biden in 2020: the “blue wall” of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Arizona and Georgia. Nevada and North Carolina, which Democrats and Republicans respectively carried in the last two elections, also were closely contested.

– Associated Press • Read the full story here

6 a.m.: As polls open on ‘huge election day,’ Buxton voters are eager to cast ballots

BUXTON — It was dark and raining when the doors to town hall opened a few minutes before 6 a.m., but the two dozen voters already in line were undeterred.

These voters were among the first in Maine to cast their ballots on Election Day, and many in line said they wouldn’t have it any other way. Buxton is among the handful of towns statewide that open early, a tradition that can be traced to the community’s farming roots.

“I like to be one of the first ones to vote,” Michael Valliere, a 56-year-old machinist, said as he picked up an “I Voted” sticker on his way out of the building.

Town Clerk John Myers, who is working his tenth presidential election, wasn’t surprised by the early morning turnout of folks who like to cast their ballots in person before heading to work or school.

Before Election Day, 39% of the town’s 7,200 registered voters voted by absentee ballot. More than 400 people registered to vote in the past month, Myers said.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows watched from the side as dozens of voters picked up their ballots. She said she’s excited about the turnout – more than 1 in 3 Mainers have already voted – and would like to see Maine once again have the highest turnout.

Gwen Catalano, 19, receives her ballot at Buxton Town Hall on Tuesday. This year is Gwen’s first time voting in an election. She and her mother decided to come early because she has class during the day. “I just want her voice to be heard,” Sarah Catalano said of her daughter. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

Among the early morning voters in Buxton were first-time voters who came to town hall with their mothers.

Caitlyn Paquette, 26, waited in the rain with her mother, Lisa Paquette, 54.

“It’s a huge, huge election,” Caitlyn Paquette said. “I feel like it’s good vs. evil at this point.”

On the other side of the building, Sarah Catalano waited for her daughter, 19-year-old Gwen Catalano, to feed her ballot into the counting machine.

“It’s amazing to vote with my daughter,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “You wait 19 years for this.”

– Gillian Graham, Press Herald

12 a.m. Dixville Notch splits presidential vote 3-3 in first Election Day vote

In a presidential election that appears to be incredibly close, it was fitting that the first votes cast on Election Day were evenly split, with three for Donald Trump and three for Kamala Harris.

The tiny New Hampshire resort town of Dixville Notch has a tradition dating back to 1960 of being the first in the nation to complete in-person voting. The town’s six voters began casting their ballots on the stroke of midnight Tuesday and the vote count was complete 15 minutes later.

In an election where tensions have run high, the setting in Dixville Notch couldn’t have been more congenial. Voting took place in the living room of the Tillotson House, with cookies and coffee and a couple of very friendly dogs.

– Associated Press

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