Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Maine voters will go to the polls to choose a new governor, a U.S. Senator, two U.S. Representatives, legislators, and local and county officials. Also on the ballot will be a citizen initiative and four bond issues.

How does ranked-choice voting affect my choices?

Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank their preferences for the candidates they  want to see in that office. The first choice will be counted Election Night. If no candidate has a simple majority of votes, the subsequent choices will be counted later.

Where do I mark my second choice for governor?

You don’t. Ranked-choice voting is not available in state and local races — such as the governor’s race. It is only available in the races for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

What happens if I vote for Alan Caron in the governor’s race?

Because Alan Caron withdrew from the race, any ballots marked for him will not be counted in the governor’s race.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, the following candidates officially have withdrawn from Tuesday’s election:

• Alan Caron, governor
• Kenneth Jack Hoyt, Jr., State House District 26
• Jane E. Frey, State House District 37
• James H. Azzola, State House District 41
• Richard V. Snow, State House District 47
• Aubrey C. Knorr, State House District 81
• Candace T. Augustine, State House District 103
• Tammy J. Perry, State House District 129
• Julia L. Bergeron, State House District 149
• Randall J. Bates, District Attorney – 2nd District

Because of when some candidates withdrew, their names may be still on the ballot. Any votes for them will not be counted.

I don’t like any of the candidates, can I write in someone’s name?

Only if you write the name of a declared write-in candidate. Those are the write-in candidates for statewide races who filed their declaration by Sept. 7:

• James N. Riley Jr., U.S. Senate
• Kenneth A. Capron, governor
• John T. Jenkins, governor
• Malon A. Tracy, governor
• J. Martin Vachon, governor

No write-in candidates have been declared for local or legislative races in Androscoggin, Franklin or Oxford counties.

Is it too late to register to vote?

No. You can register to vote at the municipal offices where you live up until 8 p.m. Election Day — when the polls close in Maine. 

Do I have to wait until Tuesday to vote?

Thursday was the deadline to request absentee ballots and vote early in the presence of a municipal clerk.

By the way, if you did get an absentee ballot, the municipal clerk needs to receive it back by 8 p.m. Election Day.

When do the polls open? Close?

It depends on where you live and the population. Towns and cities with 50o people or more can open the polls between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Municipalities with fewer than 500 people can wait until 10 a.m. to open.

All polls close at 8 p.m. Election Day.

When will all the campaign signs along the roads be taken down?

Signs that are within the right of way of public lands must be removed with one week of Election Day — Nov. 13.