HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?
The State of Maine allows residents to register to vote anytime, including the day of the election. Residents of Bath may register to vote at the City Clerk's Office, First Floor, at City Hall. Proof of residency and proof of identity is required, such as a driver's license indicating a physical street address in Bath (not a post office box mailing address).
If you are currently registered and wish to change any information such as married name or residence address, which is pertinent to your voting record, please visit the City Clerk’s Office, 55 Front Street, Bath, Maine 04530.
CAN I ENROLL IN A POLITICAL PARTY?
Currently, there are three official political parties within the State of Maine - Democrat, Green-Independent and Republican. Registered voters may enroll in one of these three political parties. Voters who wish to register to vote do not have to select a political party. Voters can be registered to vote, but do not have to be enrolled in a political party.
WHERE DO I VOTE?
There is ONE polling location for the City of Bath. It is located at the Bath Middle School, 6 Old Brunswick Road. The polls are open at 9:00AM and close at 8:00PM. Absentee Balloting is available on the day of election at the Bath City Clerk's Office from 7:30AM - 9:00AM.
WHEN ARE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED?
The municipal election is held on the Tuesday, following the first Monday, in the month of November. The one member each of the City Council (3 year term).
The State of Maine general and referendum elections are held annually on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The primary election is held on the 2nd Tuesday of June of each general election year.
I'LL BE OUT OF TOWN ON ELECTION DAY, HOW DO I VOTE? If you are unable to vote at the polls on Election Day, you may obtain an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots are available at the City Clerk's Office 30 days prior to the election. The absentee ballot may be voted at City Hall or mailed to the voter.
ABSENTEE VOTING INFORMATION
Obtaining an Absentee Ballot
The state law permits absentee ballots to be cast at any election by any voter who properly requests a ballot. If a voter is interested in voting in a particular election, but is unable to go to the polling place on Election Day, then the voter should obtain an absentee ballot.
A voter may vote by absentee ballot at City Hall. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm. Before each major election, the City Clerk's Office also offers special Saturday hours (11AM – 2PM) for the purposes of registering new voters, correcting voter information and conducting absentee voting. Please call first to verify the date and time.
A voter may also call and request a ballot be sent by mail. Ballots are mailed on a daily basis. An immediate family member (on behalf of the voter) may, in writing, request a ballot be sent by mail or delivered to the voter by that family member.
If the ballot is returned by another immediate family member, the other immediate family member must also sign the application or written request indicating they returned the ballot. The family member must state his/her relationship to the voter.
A voter may request an absentee ballot by logging on to the Maine Secretary of State's web page. Go to Elections/Absentee Ballot and do an email request.
For more information, please call the City Clerk's Office at 443-8332.
RUNNING FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICE
The municipal elections are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Municipal elections in Bath are non-partisan elections. Depending on the exact date of the municipal election, the nomination papers are available the first week in August. Completed nomination papers are due for filing third Tuesday in September. There are 2 at-large Councilors that represent voters from the entire City. The other 7 Councilors each represent a ward, one of seven sections of the City. There are 3 alternating Council seats running per year.
ELECTION DAY WORKERS
If you are interested in working at the polls on election day, please contact the City Clerk’s Office for information on how to qualify to do so at 443-8332. We are always looking for people who wish to serve the City in this capacity.
CITY OF BATH POLITICAL SIGN ORDINANCE
II. Political signs.
(A) Any person desiring to post or erect any political sign, including but not limited to signs advertising a political party, the candidacy of any individual shall, prior to the installation of any such sign, obtain the permission of the owner or appropriate agent of the private property. No such signs shall be posted or erected on any publicly owned property.
(B) No political sign may be installed on any privately owned lot or parcel in the city more than (6)weeks prior to the voting date to which it pertains and shall be removed within (2)weeks after the voting date.
(C) For any illegal political signs, City Employees have the right to enter private or public property for the purpose of removing said signs. Failure to remove signs may leave candidate or gruop responsible for the sign subject to legal action in accordance with this ordinance; each day any sign is in violation shall be seen as a separate offense.
Bath City Government