Voter interest high this year
By Naomi Morrison

New Gloucester--Despite the issues over which the Democrats and the Republicans continuously debate, both parties do agree on one item: this year's election has a lot of voter interest.

"There have been more voter drives than I've ever seen," said Chair of the New Gloucester Democratic Committee Joanne Jaccaci. Judging by the calls and interest in the debates, she continued, its going to be a very good turnout at the polls.

Steve Libby of the New Gloucester Republican Committee, said that it's fair to say this election will have more voters than previously because it's not only presidential, there are also two important referendum questions on the ballot. These questions may draw in people who wouldn't normally vote, he said.

Voter interest may be looking good to most, but New Gloucester Registrar of Voters and Deputy Clerk Barbara Seaver said it still might be too early to tell how many make it to the polls. In New Gloucester there is a high volume of applications for absentee votes, which may or may not be a positive sign. Seaver said that voters could just be taking care of their votes early to save them time in November. Last year, more than 60 percent of registered voters actually voted.

"I'll be curious to see how many people will register the day of the election because so many people are registering ahead," Seaver said... "It's hard to tell until we get to the day."

Both the New Gloucester Republican and Democratic Committees have done their part in getting the word out by displaying voter registration cards at the Community Fair; been available at other events to answer questions and hand out literature; and have called members of their party to encourage people to vote.

"We're mainly trying to get out and talk to people as much as we can," said Jaccaci.

Members of the New Gloucester Democratic Committee have also committed to volunteering rides to the polls on the day of elections. If someone needs help please contact the Democratic Committee at 926-5933.

"We're going to be available to get people to the polls," Jaccaci said.
In the meantime, absentee voters are creating a lot of work for the town office, said Seaver. Casting an absentee ballot is easy for the voter, but state and federal regulations require the town office to keep track of a lot of information for each ballot and this takes time.

A record is kept for information such as the person's name, the date the ballot was requested, the date it was returned to the office, how it was delivered to each individual, and to how each ballot comes back. Signatures are also kept on file so that the applicant signature can be checked when it is returned. It's also made available for third party requests. Then adding to the workload, there is addressing envelopes and sending out applications.

Why are so many people applying for absentee ballots? Both parties and many action groups are mailing applications to get everyone that's registered to vote, to actually vote, said Seaver. As a follow up, the parties and action groups request lists of the people who have asked for, but not yet returned, their absentee ballots. These individuals are being contacted again as a reminder to return their votes.

"[Both parties] are pushing absentee ballots," Seaver said... "so there are many more people using absentees rather than coming to the polls this year. Every time there is an event in town, there is someone there set up with voting cards," said Seaver.

Libby said that most of these mailings are efforts done on a national and state level rather than a local level. There is a big push for everyone's vote for this election.

In the past, said Libby, people that know that they're going to be out-of-town may not have gone through the absentee process. But again, with this election being important to so many people, those individuals are registering.

REMINDER: If you're doing an absentee ballot, they need to be in by 8 p.m. on election day. If you applied for an absentee vote and decide on election day to instead vote at the polls, your absentee ballot may then be voided if your poll ballot was cast before your absentee ballot was counted. The absentees will be processed at the polls starting at 2 p.m. on election day.