Pilot Program Encourages Early Voting

AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER) -- Nine communities are participating in an early voting pilot program in Maine.

Early voting is not the same as absentee voting.  Registered voters show up to a polling place, fill out a ballot and that ballot is immediately counted. 

Absentee ballots are kept in their envelopes and must be closely monitored and tracked until they are opened by election officials on election day.

Those communities participating are Augusta, Bangor, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Hallowell, Saco, Scarborough, and Standish.

The Secretary of State is asking every early voter to complete a survey to track how Mainers like the program.