AUGUSTA — Absentee ballots for the Special Election in House District 93 can now be requested online, according to Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap in a news release.

The ballots are available via the State of Maine Online Absentee Ballot Request Service: maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl.

The March 10 special election is necessitated by the resignation of Elizabeth E. Dickerson, of Rockland, who had won the House seat in the November election. Dickerson submitted her resignation to the State January 20.

For this special election, this online ballot request service is open to all Maine citizens who are registered to vote in either Owls Head or Rockland, including those who are in uniformed service or overseas.

In Maine, any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person at a voting place on Election Day and does not need a specific reason to do so. Civilian voters may request an absentee ballot until 5 p.m., Thursday, March 5.

Those with "special circumstances" that arise may apply with their town to request a ballot after that deadline. All completed ballots must be received no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Candidates for the March 10 election must have nomination papers filed with the office of the Secretary of State on or before 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 9 to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates must be declared and file with the office on or before 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 17.