With Election Day one month away on Tuesday, June 27, we're sharing details about absentee voting, what's on the ballot, and more. The election is to vote on the school budget and a Special Election for an open seat on the Portland Water Trustee Board. The full municipal budget will be reviewed and approved by Town Council during their second reading and vote on June 7, and the school budget additionally requires a referendum election. Read on for details.

The public portion of the budget process began with School Board/Leadership Council workshop sessions in March, and the School Board’s first reading on March 16. The full municipal budget was presented at a special Town Council meeting on March 29, followed by a first reading by Town Council in early May. A revised and adjusted budget was passed by the School Board on May 18. The Town Council will have their second reading of the full budget on June 7.

The School Budget Validation Referendum Election on June 27 allows voters to validate the FY2024 school budget. Learn more about the proposed school budget: The Leadership Council’s FY2024 School Budget Proposal (the "Budget Book") describes current and projected school programs & services and the resources needed to support them.  

There will be a Special Election for an open seat on the Portland Water Trustee Board representing the Town of Scarborough. This term expires in November 2023.

If you plan to vote by absentee ballot, first you will need to request it. Once receiving your ballot, you can vote absentee by mailing in your completed ballot or dropping it off at Town Hall. You can also vote in person by absentee ballot at Town Hall prior to Election Day—while in-person voting opened today at Town Hall, absentee ballots will be available for pickup but cannot be accepted prior to June 8th once Council has approved the budget.

Please Note: Ballots cannot be returned prior to the budget being approved by the Town Council (scheduled for June 7). Any absentee ballots received prior to then cannot be counted. The voter will be notified and given the opportunity to vote on a new ballot.

Please Note: When returning an absentee ballot, the School Budget ballot will only be accepted on or after Thursday, June 8. The final vote on the School Budget will be on Wednesday, June 7, and ballots will only be accepted after the final vote.