It’s an exciting year for politics, and the Maine Democratic Party had, as of early February, already received 6,000 requests for absentee ballots for its March 6 statewide caucus. That’s a record for the party, and volunteers at party headquarters in Augusta have been working hard to process those requests and verify names against the Maine Secretary of State’s monthly voter registration list.

The Maine Democratic Party has finalized its March 6 caucus locations, and the Maine Republican Party has almost finished its list of the party’s March 5 caucus locations throughout the state.

Likewise, the Green Party is holding caucuses in some communities. Click here to learn more.

For those registered voters who are enrolled in a specific party, the deadline has passed to change parties in order to participate in a caucus. Those who are unenrolled in any party can enroll in a party up to, and on, the day of the caucus. Unregistered voters can also register to vote before the caucuses.

“All registered Democrats are encouraged to attend and caucus in support of their preferred presidential candidate,” the Maine Democrats said, at their website. “This is also the first step for anyone wishing to be a delegate to the Maine Democratic State Convention in Portland on May 6-7 and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 25-28.”

The Democrats’ Municipal Caucuses meet from 1 to 8 p.m. to choose delegates to the State Convention. The State Convention delegates are allocated to presidential contenders in proportion to the percentage of the support each candidate receives at the Municipal Caucus.

"With a strong anticipated turnout, we have worked with local Republican officials to provide the most suitable venue in each caucus region to give Republicans not only a place to securely cast a ballot for their preferred Presidential candidate, but also to meet and work with other local Republicans to build a stronger grassroots network," said Maine GOP Chairman Rick Bennett, at that party’s website.

All 23 of Maine's delegates to the Republican National Convention are pledged to presidential contenders in Maine Municipal Caucuses. The Republican caucuses run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Statewide caucus results will determine the number of delegates each candidate receives to the national convention.

Official Presidential results for the Maine Republicans will be announced at a special event on the evening of March 5 in Lewiston. To learn more about this event, and attend click here. 

Caucuses are the country’s strong tradition in beginning the process of declaring the states’ preference for their respective parties presidential nominee.

Republicans

Under Maine GOP rules, all caucuses must be held on March 5 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Official presidential results will be announced on the evening of March 5 after active duty military and disabled veteran absentee ballots are counted and added to the triple checked counts of the local caucus results.

One must take a Photo ID in order to vote in the Presidential Nominating Caucus at the Republican caucuses.

Absentee ballots are available for active duty military and disabled veterans. The Republicans are not offering absentee ballots to other voters.

Democrats

For those unable to make the caucus, absentee forms are available at Maine Democratic Party website. The form must be printed, signed and mailed to the party headquarters in Augusta, where the information will be checked against state records. Deadline is March 2.

Only an individual voter, or a member of the voter's household can request an absentee ballot. They can not be requested in bulk or by an organization or a campaign on behalf of the voter.

To participate in the caucus, one must be a registered and enrolled voter of this voting district and a registered member of the Democratic party.

Caucus locations

Republicans

What follows is the Republican's list of caucus locations in Knox, Waldo and Lincoln counties. The Republican Party will send its list soon, and we will update the locations as soon as more information comes in.

KNOX COUNTY

Rockland Middle School
30 Broadway, Rockland

ALL MUNICIPALITIES: Appleton, Camden, Cushing, Friendship, Hope, Isle Au Haut, Matinicus Isle Plt, North Haven, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Saint George, South Thomaston, Thomaston, Union, Vinalhaven, Warren, Washington

8:30 Doors Open

9 a.m. Registration for New Voters/Changes in Enrollment

10 a.m. Registration Ends – Municipal Organizational Caucuses Begin – Presidential Vote Opens

11 a.m. Presidential Speeches

12 p.m. Other Speakers if present – Complete Caucuses if they have unfinished business

1 p.m. Presidential Vote Closes

Ballots Counted

LINCOLN COUNTY

Wiscasset Middle School
272 Gardiner Road, Wiscasset

ALL MUNICIPALITIES: Alna, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Dresden, Edgecomb, Jefferson, Monhegan Island Plt, Newcastle, Nobleboro, Somerville, South Bristol, Southport, Waldoboro, Westport Island, Whitefield, Wiscasset

10:00 Doors Open

10:00 Registration for New Voters/Changes in Enrollment

11:00 Registration Ends – Municipal Organizational Caucuses Begin – Presidential Vote Opens

12:00 Presidential Speeches

1:00 Other Speakers if present – Complete Caucuses if they have unfinished business

2:00 Presidential Vote Closes

Ballots Counted

WALDO COUNTY
Belfast High School
98 Waldo Avenue, Belfast

ALL MUNICIPALITIES: Belfast, Belmont, Brooks, Burnham, Frankfort, Freedom, Islesboro, Jackson, Knox, Liberty, Lincolnville, Monroe, Montville, Morrill, Northport, Palermo, Prospect, Searsmont, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Swanville, Thorndike, Troy, Unity, Waldo, Winterport

8:00 Registration for New Voters/Changes in Enrollment

9:00 Registration Ends – Municipal Organizational Caucuses Begin – Presidential Vote Opens

10:00 Presidential Speeches

11:00 Other Speakers if present – Complete Caucuses if they have unfinished business

12:00 Presidential Vote Closes

Ballots Counted

Democrats

Knox County

 Lincoln County

Waldo County

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657