Easton, state officials prepare for Election Day

EASTON, Maine (WAGM) - Town and state officials are preparing for Election Day, with polls opening Tuesday, Nov. 3.

In Easton, the work leading up to Election Day starts weeks in advance, said Cheryl Clark, the town manager and a former election clerk of 32 years.

Weeks of preparation in Easton

Clark said staff test equipment, check state requirements, and set up for Election Day.

“It’s quite a bit of work, but you have to have it ready for election day. So we keep up on it,” Clark said.

Polling place requirements

The state sets requirements for each polling place based on its size and layout. In Easton, the polls have been at the community center on Station Road since 2020.

Clark said the decision comes down to a layout that works for voters and clerks.

“We do review it every year and make sure, depending on the election, just in case we have poll watchers or petitioners. But it’s a really good space for that. We can keep everybody on the inside of the guardrail when they’re voting and they can see the voting booth. We do read through the requirements and make sure we’re fulfilling them,” Clark said.

State planning for disruptions

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said her office has trained clerks, law enforcement and election wardens. She said they also have planned for potential disruptions.

“We’ve done scenario planning for any possibility, whether that is weather-related or swatting like we saw in some polling places in 2024, or whether the federal government were to send law enforcement to the polls, which would be illegal,” Bellows said.

Bellows said these are all precautionary measures. She said she expects a successful Election Day and hopes Maine will again lead the nation in voter turnout, as it did in 2022.

“We’re ready for anything, but what we expect is that it will be a yet another exciting day where every eligible Maine citizen has that right to register to vote, cast their ballot, and know their ballot will be counted,” Bellows said.

Same-day registration

Eligible voters can register and vote on the same day.

Clark said there is one main goal with all the work leading up to Election Day.

“Just come and vote would be great,” Clark said.