Get Educated! Get Involved!
VOTE!
A message from M.A.I.N.
Tuesday, Nov. 4th
OR
Vote from Home by absentee ballot
OR
Vote Early
now until Nov. 3rd.
|
It’s not just a right, it’s our duty! Our greatest power lies in
electing people who will work for what we know is fair and just.
On Friday, November 7th, MAIN will hold its
annual conference
at the State House in Augusta. At the conference, we will discuss
ways to improve health care, safety-net programs, work related
issues, housing, heating assistance, tax reform, education and
training. By the end of the day, we will choose the top priorities
to work on during the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions.
It is important that we elect people at the local, state and national
level who will understand our priorities. We need to know if they
will work with us on these priotities to end poverty and increase
economic security. Voting the right people into office is the first
step in making sure that we can create laws and other public
policy that will meet the needs of people with low income.
Elected officials make decisions about things that are important to
you – your wages, your health care, your education, your housing
and your security. Too often, people with low income don’t feel
that their vote can make a difference. It is important to realize
that political decisions affect our daily lives, from the price of
milk, bread and gasoline to the quality of “safety-net” programs
available if our families should need them. MAIN believes that
each of us must take responsibility for who gets into office if we
want to make government work for what is best for us all. Learn
about the candidates and how they will represent you on the
issues you care about.
Know the candidates.
- Read about the candidates and ballot measures.
- Attend, listen to, or watch the debates.
- Go to candidates’ web sites.
- Go to forums and ask candidates, if elected, what they will do...
- To help people with low income go to college or get more training?
- To raise wages for low-wage workers?
- To make sure MaineCare is available to all who need it?
- To protect the Dirigo Health program?
- To create more affordable housing? child care? transportation?
If you find a candidate you like, then work on their campaign. You can help them understand
the issues that affect people with low income.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2008
BUT you can...
Vote Early:
Any voter may choose to vote in person at your city hall or town office 30 days before Election
Day – now until Monday, November 3rd.
Vote from Home by Absentee Ballot:
You can also call your town office or city hall and request an absentee ballot. It will be sent to
you so you can vote by mail.
To get an absentee ballot application:
Mail or take the application to your town clerk’s office. They will send you a ballot (or
you can vote when you are there). Ballots are available 30-45 days before November 4th.
Vote and then mail or deliver your ballot so it arrives anytime before 8:00 pm on Election Day
– November 4th.
“I knew I’d be busy on Election Day and I worried that the lines would be long, so I voted ahead of time at my town
office. It was easy!”
How to Register to Vote:
- Register at your town office.
- Register at the polls on Election Day.
- Most social services agencies and the Division of Motor Vehicles also have voter registration cards.
- If you’ve moved since you last voted, you’ll need to register again.
Who can register? Who can vote?
- You must be at least 18 years of age on or before Election Day.
- You must be a United States citizen, live in Maine and register in the town or city where you live.
- Contrary to popular belief, ex-felons, those incarcerated, and people who are homeless can vote in Maine.
How do I vote & where do I vote?
Go to your town office or local public library to see the ballot.
Call your town office to find out where to vote and when the polls are open. All polling places close at 8:00 p.m.
You can also find your polling place on-line.
Accessible Voting:
All interested voters are invited to try Maine’s new Accessible Voting System (AVS), designed to allow voters
with disabilities to vote privately and independently. All voters, regardless of whether
they have a disability are encouraged to use it. This system actually reads the ballot to you
privately. You can practice on this new system from home before going to the polls. Dial toll
free 1-866-491-8683. Enter your ballot access ID when prompted.
Go here to get the access ID on-line
Super Voting Web Sites
Maine Secretary of State’s election information website
You can use it to find
your polling place, the name of candidates, and other information.
Get a Maine
absentee ballot application form here.
League of Women Voters
This is a non partisan website
where you can find state and national candidates and get information about issues on the ballot, where to vote, and
when to vote. You can also register to vote and apply to vote from home – absentee voting.
Have questions about:
- registering to vote,
- accessible voting,
- voting from home, or
- voting before November 4th?
We can help!
Call MAIN leader Steve Hoad at 445-2141.
Call Chris Rusnov at Maine Equal Justice toll-free 1-866-626-7059 x 204.
Make sure your voice is heard.
VOTE!
Election Day - November 4th.
Vote early, if you can.
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