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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Dunlap (207) 626-8400
Augusts 3, 2009

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap Announces the Launch of the 2009 Online Absentee Ballot Request Service

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap announced today that his office has launched the 2009 Online Absentee Ballot Request Service.  An impressive 189 cities and towns have opted to accept electronic absentee ballot requests from the service; and, voters from every Maine town can use the service to find all of the information they need to vote by absentee ballot.

Maine law makes it easy to cast an absentee ballot.  Citizens don't have to be out-of-town or have any other reason to take advantage of this easy way to vote at a time that is most convenient.

“In 2008, the first year Maine law allowed municipalities the option to accept electronic absentee ballot requests, 52 towns and cities chose that option,” stated Secretary Dunlap.  “The service was enthusiastically embraced by voters and election officials alike in those participating municipalities, and now this year, we've seen the number of participating towns more than triple.  I'm excited that it will now be easier than ever for Maine citizens to obtain and cast their ballots.”

The service provides three ways to request an absentee ballot:

  1. Voters in the 189 participating municipalities may fill out and submit their request forms online;
  2. Any voter, regardless of municipality, may fill out a request form online, print out and sign the completed form, and mail the signed form to their municipal clerk; or,
  3. Any voter, regardless of municipality, may print a blank request form, fill it out by hand and mail the completed form their municipal clerk.

“Whichever method works best for you, they are now all readily accessible on our website.” Dunlap concluded, “Our goal is simple: to give Mainers every opportunity to participate in the electoral process.  This new website is an effective tool in achieving that goal.”

Municipalities will begin to distribute absentee ballots in late September.  The 2009 Online Absentee Ballot Request Service is available at: