Voting & Elections
Prepare to Vote
REGISTER TO VOTE
Voter registration is available for new voters or for existing Scarborough voters to change their address or name at Town Hall during regular business hours. Residents are encouraged to update their voter registration information or register to vote with the Town Clerk's office prior to Election Day to help reduce lines. View more Town Clerk election information.
What to Bring:
- Government-issued ID
- Something with your Scarborough address, if your ID does not have it
Please Note: 21 days prior to the Election is called the “closed period”, at which point residents who register to vote must do so in person in the Town Clerk's Office. The “closed period” starts Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Find out more on Voter Registration on the Secretary of State's webpage.
ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS
Request your absentee ballot by completing an application either in-person or online: Print and complete the form, then mail it to the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at P.O. Box 360, Scarborough, ME 04070-0360 or fill out the online form request. Absentee ballots will be mailed when they are available. For further information on absentee voting and voter registration, please contact the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at 730-4020.
Request your absentee ballot by October 29. You can drop off your completed ballot anytime in our secure Drop Box outside of the Town Hall entrance. Or, drop it off inside during business hours. Ballots will be accepted until 8:00pm on Election Day (November 3).
EARLY VOTING
Vote Monday-Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall, starting Monday, October 5 through Thursday, October 29.
ELECTION DAY
Election Day is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Voting will take place at the Scarborough High School, located at 11 Municipal Drive from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
View our Elections page.
On the Ballot
Municipal Referendum
$6M Bond for Town Radio Project
The municipal referendum question will ask if voters approve the authorization of up to $6 million in bonds of the Town to fund the cost of the Town Radio Project.
The project a significant municipal two-way radio communications system upgrade for public safety, public service, and school departments in Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach. The total project cost is expected to be closer to $12.4 million; the Town is requesting a Congressionally Directed Spending grant to meet the remaining need not covered locally.
Many key components of the existing radio infrastructure have reached or exceeded their expected service life and are no longer supported by the manufacturers to repair or replace when failures occur. A modernized system would address this phase-out and streamline the variety of radio systems used by different departments into a single unified system. There are also coverage gaps that would be improved by modernizing the system. Hear a sample of what the radio coverage sounds like in many areas of Scarborough in the video below.
Municipal General: Candidates
Elect candidates for the Town Council, Board of Education, and Sanitary District. The candidates are:
Town Council (3 Seats for 3-Year Term to expire 2029)
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Isha Agarwal
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Larry Cain (Incumbent)
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Sam Cofone
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Sean Flaherty
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Denise Hamilton
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Jessica Sargent
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Russell Wayne Werts
Board of Education (1 Seat to fill a vacancy, term to expire in June 2028)
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Andy Guillerault
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Stephen Zamierowski
Sanitary District Trustees (3 Seats for 3-Year Term to expire 2029)
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Matthew Garrett
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Jason Greenleaf
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Denis Lafreniere Jr.
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Benjamin McDougal
Candidates Night
Tuesday, September 22
Council Chambers, Town Hall
View Recording
State of Maine General Election
Elect candidates for Governor, Representative to Congress, State Senator, Representative to the Legislature, Judge of Probate, Sheriff, and District Attorney. View sample ballots
2025 Election
November 4, 2025 | On the Ballot
Municipal REFERENDUM
$129.85M K-8 School Building Project & $10M Middle School Larger Addition
The school project referendum question will ask if voters approve a total cost of up to $129.85 million for K-8 school renovations. These include:
• Eight Corners School: Replace with a new school on the existing site to accommodate up to 380 K-2nd grade students
• Blue Point School: Renovations and additions to accommodate up to 232 K-2nd grade students and eliminate portables
• Pleasant Hill School: Renovations and additions to accommodate up to 224 K-2nd grade students and eliminate portables
• Wentworth School: Small addition to accommodate increased 3-5th grade enrollment expected beginning in 2031-32
• Middle School: Renovations and additions to accommodate current 6-8th graders in the building, eliminate portables, and enlarge the undersized cafeteria
A second referendum question asks for a further addition to the Middle School to accommodate increased enrollment expected in 2024, with a total project cost of up to $10M (contingent on the first question passing).
Major Challenges in the Schools
- Over Capacity & Overcrowding: The K-2 primary schools and middle school are over capacity. Temporary modular classrooms have been in daily use for over 20 years. Nearly 200 additional students are expected to enter the primary schools by 2028-2029.
- Competing Uses of Space: For multipurpose spaces (gyms as cafeterias, art/music, etc.), programs can be disrupted by the time it takes to reset the room and by the need to move or store specialized equipment. Increasing enrollment will continue to exacerbate space needs.
- Aging Outdated Facilities: The three K-2 primary schools were built in the 1950s and 60s. Outdated infrastructure does not adequately support modern teaching and learning, including special education, intervention, and state-mandated curriculum.
- Increased Security Needs: Safety & security needs are different today than when our schools were constructed. Improvements are needed to ensure all schools have sufficient emergency site access, secure entry vestibules, lockdown zones, and other infrastructure.
Municipal General: Candidates
Elect candidates for the Town Council, Board of Education, and Sanitary District. The candidates are:
Town Council (2 Seats for 3-Year Term)
- Michelle T. Hayes
- Karin B. Shupe (Incumbent)
Board of Education (1 Seat for 2-Year Term)
- Crescencia Maurer
Sanitary District Trustees (2 Seats)
- Anthony J. D'Amelio
- Write-In
Michelle Hayes is a longtime Scarborough resident with a 25-year executive leadership career with Hannaford Supermarkets. She is a past Chair of the Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Board of Directors, served for 6 years as an Olympia Snowe Leadership Advisor mentoring high school girls in Maine, and is a past board member of Kids First, Cumberland County YMCA, Fiddlehead Center for the Arts and Ketcha Outdoors. She is currently a board member of Thomas College and Maine Community Foundation. Michelle is running for Town Council because of her "ongoing frustration with the Town's governance and inability to manage growth". She is a founding member of the grassroots movement Not So Fast Scarborough.
Karin Shupe has served on the Council for the last three years and has volunteered for the Town for over 10 years. She enjoys meeting Scarborough residents and learning about their concerns and priorities. Her top two priorities continue to be protecting our marsh and environment, and slowing growth. "The changes I have seen in Scarborough over the last twenty years has been impactful to the quality of life residents experience. We need to do a better job to slow growth and manage the impact of the growth we have already experienced."
Crescencia Maurer is a 6-year Scarborough resident and works part time at Cabela's and the Scarborough Land Trust. She is an enthusiastic walker, gardener, and nature lover and has a diverse professional background including working as a Spanish language instructor, policy analyst, consultant, and project manager, some of which was in Brazil, Chile, and Peru. She has a dedication to community service, having served on two Town committees and the board of the former Friends of Scarborough Marsh, as well as volunteering as a beach monitor. She has a Master's in Environmental Management from Duke University, and undergraduate degree from Pomona College. She is married with three children.
Anthony D'Amelio has lived in Scarborough for 30 years. He has been an engineer for nearly 50 years and was the electrical engineer in the design and construction of the Scarborough Wastewater Treatment Facility. "My goal is to support this amazing infrastructure and the dedicated staff that has worked so hard to maintain. In addition, it is my job as a trustee to make sure the people of Scarborough are given the best possible representation regarding operations, reliability and maintain a cost effective rate structure for this service."
Candidates Night
Tuesday, October 7, 6:00pm
Council Chambers, Town Hall
View Recording
2024 Election
November 5, 2024 Election
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024 for the Municipal and Referendum Election. Learn more about voter information and what will be on the municipal and referendum ballots. See the Town Clerk's Elections page for information related to absentee ballots and early voting. Click Here to sign up for our Town Newsletter for ongoing updates.
Results
The unofficial results of the municipal election are posted here.
On the Ballot
REFERENDUM
Cruiser & Body Worn Cameras (Police Department) $1M
Scarborough is one of only a few departments in Southern Maine who do not possess either camera. The equipment would provide quality audio and video recordings of police operational activities, bringing the department up to industry standards. Possessing camera footage has become an expectation, especially in the prosecution of criminal cases in court. Learn More in a budget article by Police Chief Mark Holmquist.
Replacement Pumper Truck (Fire Department) $1M
Commonly referred to as a fire engine. It would replace a 20-year old truck and is scheduled as part of the department's Apparatus Replacement Plan. As the current vehicle ages, it becomes more expensive to maintain and to purchase a new one. Learn More in a budget article by the Fire Department.
Land Bond Replenishment $6M
The Parks and Conservation Land Bond is now nearly depleted after supporting the purchases of several conservation projects. This approval would replenish the bond that is used to support land purchases for conservation, public access, recreation, and wildlife protection. Previous purchases supported with land bond funds have included Broadturn Farm, Alger Hall, the Higgins Beach parking lot, Pleasant Hill Preserve, and more. View materials from September 4, 2024 Town Council meeting.
REFERENDUM RESOURCES
Cruiser & Body Worn Cameras
Scarborough Police Seeks Body Worn Cameras in Upcoming Election
By Scarborough Police Department
The Police Department is requesting voter approval in the November election for nearly $997,000 towards a purchase agreement for body-worn and in-car cameras capable of providing quality audio and video recordings of police operational activities. The equipment will be used by sworn officers to record certain interactions while on duty. The use of the equipment will be directed by policy when the program is implemented.
The cameras would bring the Scarborough Police Department up to industry standards as possessing camera footage has become an expectation, especially in the prosecution of criminal cases in court. Scarborough is one of only a few departments in Southern Maine who do not possess either body-worn or in-car camera system options. The police departments in each of the bordering communities surrounding the Town of Scarborough, all have either the body-worn or in-car camera options. Gorham and Cape Elizabeth Police Departments are the only departments in our neighboring communities that only have the in-car camera option. The remaining departments have both body-worn and in-car camera capabilities. The camera implementation will be used for risk management and officer safety, courtroom proceedings, increased transparency, employee performance, evaluations and training.
An important officer safety feature on the body-worn cameras will be the capability for our dispatchers to view a live feed of our officers at high-risk calls for service or traffic stops. This vantage point will allow our dispatchers to communicate to responding officers about the status of the officer on scene if the officer is not able to notify dispatch via portable radio.
The video obtained through body-worn and in-car camera systems can also be used as key evidence to corroborate eye witness or an officer’s testimony during a court proceeding. Both cameras would provide prosecutors, defense attorney’s, judges and juries with multiple visual vantage points that both camera systems could provide. The video footage from both camera options will further enhance our criminal cases and provide judges and juries assigned to these cases with a full representation of the incident.
There has been an increased expectation from citizens for transparency of police agencies throughout the nation over the last several years. Our department is receptive to being transparent with our citizens regarding our actions during the course of our duties. The purchase of the camera system would allow our department to collect video evidence of interactions during the course of police activities. In certain instances when the video would enhance public trust or justify the actions of an officer, the video may be released for public consumption, if legally authorized to be released. The Scarborough Police Department expects our officers to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. The implementation of body-worn and in-car cameras will provide further accountability of our officer’s conduct in the eyes of the public.
The product that is being recommended for purchase is the result of an extensive vetting and an on-duty demonstration process with three different vendors that were determined to most likely meet the needs of the department. This process included input and assistance from our IT Department. There are a number of police departments in Maine that are using other products and are considering making a change to the recommended product.
There is also support from the officers who will be utilizing the equipment on a routine basis. The request to consider the purchase of the equipment came from this group. Sergeant Andrew Flynn took part in a presentation to the Scarborough Town Council back in July, where he pointed out how he was supportive of the cameras. He has taken part in two demonstrations where he utilized the body worn cameras on duty for several weeks. After having the opportunity to utilize the equipment, he realized that he felt uncomfortable without the cameras and the support of its GPS, live stream and recording capabilities.
There are currently 46 sworn members of the Scarborough Police Department, including reserve officers. In the planning for future growth of the organization, the budget request is for (50) body-worn camera devices and (10) in-car cruiser cameras for each marked cruiser. The total cost to purchase both camera systems for 5-years is $996,707. This cost includes unlimited cloud storage as recommended by IT.
The Scarborough Police Department will be hosting public information sessions for our citizens to learn more about the cameras and their capabilities. The two remaining sessions will be on September 26th and October 24th at the Public Safety Building beginning at 6:30pm. Each informational session will also be recorded for citizens who are unable to attend in-person or view online. The recordings will be available to view on the Town of Scarborough’s website. For more information, please contact Police Chief Mark Holmquist at 730-4399 or via email at mholmquist@scarboroughmaine.org.
Additional Materials (Provided at July 17, 2024 Workshop)
Cost Breakdown
Cameras are common today and an essential tool in modern law enforcement. We are the only town in Cumberland County that does not have body worn cameras or cameras in our cruisers. The cameras would bring the Scarborough Police department up to industry standards.
There are currently 46 sworn members of the Scarborough Police Department, including reserve officers. In the planning for future growth of the organization, the budget request is for (50) body-worn camera devices and (12) in-car cruiser cameras for each marked cruiser. The total cost to lease both camera systems for 5-years is $996,707. This cost includes unlimited cloud storage as recommended by IT. See below for the breakdown of these expenses that led to the total amount being requested in the November election.
Replacement Pumper Truck
Scarborough Fire Seeks New Fire Engine in November Election
By Scarborough Fire Department
The Scarborough Fire Department is requesting the purchase of a new fire engine for nearly $1 million. The question will be on the local (Scarborough) referendum ballot for voter approval in the November election. If approved, the Department will retire its oldest fire engine, a 20-year old model, to be replaced by the new one. The fire engine slated for retirement was originally purchased for $369,675 in 2004. In the last five years alone, the maintenance costs for the 20-year old fire engine have exceeded $90,000, nearly 25% of the original purchase price of the vehicle.
Fire engines are the backbone vehicle of the Fire Department, with one engine assigned to each of the six Neighborhood Fire Stations. A fire engine is equipped with a pump to build water pressure, an on-board water tank, and fire hose to be able to extinguish fires. Scarborough fire engines are also equipped with portable ladders to access upper floors, as well as various tools and pieces of equipment utilized in firefighting and rescue. Additionally, all Scarborough fire engines are equipped with emergency medical equipment, including Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to rapidly treat patients in need of medical attention. Due to the large size of the Town, fire engines and their crews often arrive at medical calls from a nearby neighborhood Fire Station and begin patient care before one of our staffed ambulances arrive.
The Scarborough Fire Department has utilized and regularly revised a strategic apparatus replacement plan for more than eighty years. This plan provides a data-driven, fiscally and operationally responsible framework for the composition, operational deployment, maintenance, and scheduled replacement of the fleet. This plan is regularly reviewed and incorporates industry best practices, tracking trends of call volume, and input regarding maintenance from experts at Scarborough Public Works.
This collaborative and considered approach has also led to the evolution of the design of our fleet. New fire engines have a reduced overall length that significantly increases maneuverability, standardization of layout, equipment, enhanced safety features that protect both the Firefighters riding in the vehicle and the motoring public, and changes in vehicle and compartment height that make working on and around the vehicle more ergonomically correct.
While the Scarborough Fire Department’s replacement schedule historically considers vehicle use, age, and the associated maintenance costs, a new challenge being factored in is that the fire service, like nearly every other part of life, continues to be impacted by supply chain and service challenges that have arisen over the past few years. The wait times for a new fire engine to be built and delivered now range between 24 and 48 months and are not projected to decrease in the near future.
The increase in build times represents two significant financial impacts: Deferred purchases result in a significant increase in purchase price. For example, the price to purchase a vehicle identical to Scarborough’s newest fire engine has increased over $375,000 in two years. The second financial impact is the ongoing increase in maintenance costs and the associated down time for the aging fire engine slated for retirement.
The request to fund the purchase of a new fire engine this year represents a longstanding effort to be responsible stewards of the resources provided to us by the residents we serve, continuing to field the most operationally effective fleet of vehicles possible, and to provide for the safety of the public and our Firefighters by providing them with the most up-to-date equipment and safety systems possible as they respond to and mitigate emergencies.
Additional Materials (Provided at July 17, 2024 Workshop)
Land Bond Replenishment
$6M Land Bond Proposed in November Election
The Scarborough election on November 5th will include a $6 million land bond request on its local ballot. The measure was approved in the September 4 Town Council meeting along with a written explanation and recommendation by the council to be included on the ballot question.
The land bond question was first requested to be put on the November ballot by the Town’s Parks and Conservation Land Board in January 2024. The Board is responsible for evaluating applications for conservation projects to receive funding from the Land Acquisition Fund. This fund was originally established in 2000 for the purpose of conservation of natural areas, providing public access and recreation, and the protection of wildlife habitat and scenic or environmentally sensitive areas. All applications for the use of land bond money must be reviewed by the Board. The Board uses a detailed acquisition evaluation process for properties based on factors such as size, preservation of natural resources, location to habitat, public access, and creating connectivity. Recommendations of the Board are provided to the Town Council and a three-step public process is followed before any use of the land money is approved.
The Town of Scarborough has long committed to land conservation efforts. Since 2000, the Town has contributed $7.5 million to the fund through voter approval in four elections. Notable conservation projects include Warren Woods (2012) and Pleasant Hill Preserve (2014), which are owned by the Scarborough Land Trust. Beyond conservation, the land bond supported the purchase of the Higgins Beach lot (2010) to secure beach access and agricultural easements to protect Frith Farm (2010), Broadturn Farm (2004), and Comstock (2013). Land bond funds made these projects possible along with state and federal grants and funding from organizations like the Scarborough Land Trust, Land for Maine’s Future, and the Maine Farmland Trust.
Two decades past the first contribution to the land bond, the Town Council has continued Scarborough’s allegiance to our natural areas. In 2023, the council unanimously approved the “30x30” resolution, a broader initiative which aims to conserve 30% of its land and water by 2030. In the January 2024 recommendation letter to the Town Council, Board Chair Jessica Sargent stated that the land bond replenishment would not only continue to maintain Scarborough’s parks and land conservation, but that “new bonding capacity is necessary to fulfill the resolution”.
Conserving land brings several benefits to the community. Economically, it serves as a tool to mitigate the effects of development on infrastructure and the Town’s costs for services. The community identified this as an area of importance in the 2023 community survey, where when asked the three most significant issues that residents think Scarborough will face over the next five years, the top response was “Pace of community growth/expansion” (77%). Land in conservation therefore becomes land that cannot be developed or put a strain on town resources.
Stewardship of natural resources has also been a defining factor of Scarborough’s identity over time. The Town’s 2021 Comprehensive Plan outlines a vision for the future of Scarborough that preserves this identity. One of the vision statements listed is: “The Scarborough Marsh is central to the Town’s identity, creating a special awareness by our residents of the importance of all of the Town's natural resources. Future land use will follow a pattern of development that is sensitive to protecting our beaches, dunes, rivers, open spaces, farmlands, and other elements that comprise our unique ecosystem.” Conservation protects the water quality in our rivers, streams, and the marsh. It also contributes to many of the public benefits that Scarborough is known for; land that can be used for outdoor recreation and open space for residents and visitors to enjoy.
The land bond question posed on the November election ballot requests up to $6 million for the purposes designated in the Land Acquisition Fund. While previous voter approved funds have ranged from $1-2.5 million, this amount was chosen by the Parks and Conservation Land Board to account for current considerations. The Board has observed a higher cost of land in Scarborough, reducing the impact of a lesser amount. It also accounts for what’s expected to be a strong few years of upcoming conservation purchases to help meet the Council’s 30x30 goal and support the Open Space Plan, which will be finalized by 2025 and provide a deliberate roadmap to conservation priorities.
Additional Materials (Provided at July 17, 2024 Workshop)
municipal CANDIDATES
Seats that will appear on the November 5th Municipal Ballot:
Town Council (2 Seats for a 3-Year term to expire 2027)
Doherty, Scott W.
Fellows, Cory E.
Maurer, Crescencia
Town Council (1 seat to fill a vacancy created by Jean-Marie Caterina, with a term to expire in 2026)
Donovan, William J.
View current councilors on our Town Council page.
Sanitary District Trustees (2 seats for a 3-Year term to expire 2027)
Rico, Nicola F.
Stein, Michael A.
School Board (1 Seat to fill a vacancy created by Carolyn Gammon, with a term to expire in June of 2026)
Rockenstire, Mitchell T.
Due to an administrative oversight, the middle initial for a candidate running for Town Council is printed incorrectly on the Town Ballot. The first and last names of all candidates on the ballot are otherwise correct and no action is required from voters. Please direct any questions to the Town Clerk's Office at (207) 730-4020.
Candidates' Night
Wednesday, September 25
6:30pm
Council Chambers, Scarborough Town Hall
View Recording
Meet the candidates ahead of the election by viewing our annual Candidates’ Night, sponsored by the Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce with Kevin Freeman as moderator.
State of Maine Referendum Election
Questions Appearing on the November 5, 2024 Ballot
QUESTION 1: An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures, Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?
QUESTION 2: An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Research and Development and Commercialization, Do you favor a bond issue of $25,000,000 to provide funds, to be awarded through a competitive process and to leverage matching private and federal funds on at least a one-to-one basis, for research and development and commercialization for Maine-based public and private institutions in support of technological innovation in the targeted sectors of life sciences and biomedical technology, environmental and renewable energy technology, information technology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, aquaculture and marine technology, composites and advanced materials and precision manufacturing?
QUESTION 3: An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Restore Historic Community Buildings, Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to restore historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations, with funds being issued contingent on a 25% local match requirement from either private or nonprofit sources?
QUESTION 4: An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Promote the Design, Development and Maintenance of Trails for Outdoor Recreation and Active Transportation, Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to invest in the design, development and maintenance for nonmotorized, motorized and multi-use trails statewide, to be matched by at least $3,000,000 in private and public contributions?
QUESTION 5: An Act to Restore the Former State of Maine Flag, Do you favor making the former state flag, replaced as the official flag of the State in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the official flag of the State?
2023 Election
November 7, 2023 Election
View unofficial election results
Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023 for the Municipal and Referendum Election. Learn more about voter information and what will be on the municipal and referendum ballots. See the Town Clerk's Elections page for information related to absentee ballots and early voting. See the 2023 Voter Guide special edition newsletter, sent to newsletter subscribers on October 19 (Click Here to sign up for our Town Newsletter).
On the Ballot
There will be two ballots: 1 State Ballot (two-sided) and 1 Municipal Ballot (one-sided). Be sure to double check when voting that you have voted on both sides of the ballots.
(municipal) Referendum question 1: Scarborough public schools building PROJECT
Shall the Order entitled "ORDER AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF UP TO $160,000,000 IN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF THE TOWN OF SCARBOROUGH TO FUND COSTS FOR A NEW UNIFIED K-3 SCHOOL AND RENOVATIONS TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL" be approved?
Explanation and Recommendations: Approval of this Order would authorize the issuance of up to $160,000,000 in general obligation bonds of the Town to provide funds for the purchase of land, off-site improvements and to construct and equip a new Unified K-3 Primary School and renovations to the Middle School to execute the K-8 Strategic Facilities Project.
A property currently valued at $400k will be taxed an estimated $16,588 over the term of the bonds, averaging $488 per year.
The Town Council and Board of Education recommend approval of this question.
View Financial Statement on Sample Ballot
Background:
"The K-8 Strategic Project & New Primary School project is a holistic strategic solution for our K-8 schools to solve facilities inadequacies and inefficiencies by reorganizing grade levels, aligning our student populations, and building a new consolidated primary school that addresses educational equity, operational efficiency, population growth, flexibility, safety & security, and 21st century learning and teaching methods." —Statement from the Building Steering Committee on the Scarborough Public Schools website
(municipal) CANDIDATES
Candidates that will appear on the November 7th Municipal Ballot:
Town Council (3 Seats)
- Anderson, Jonathan E.
- Caterina, Jean-Marie
- Cushing, Jr., Donald W.
- Doherty, Scott W.
View current councilors on our Town Council page.
Sanitary District Trustees (3 Seats)
- Greenleaf, Jason A.
- McDougal, Benjamin T.
- Summers, Ruth A.
Portland Water District Trustees (1 Seat)
- Crockett, Leroy P.
- Pellenz, Nicole M.
Candidates' Night
Thursday, October 12
6:30pm
Council Chambers, Scarborough Town Hall
Meet the candidates ahead of the election by viewing our annual Candidates’ Night, sponsored by the Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce with Kevin Freeman as moderator.
State of Maine Referendum Election
Questions Appearing on the November 7, 2023 Ballot
Question 1: Citizen Initiative
Do you want to bar some quasi-governmental entities and all consumer-owned electric utilities from taking on more than $1 billion in debt unless they get statewide voter approval?
Question 2: Citizen Initiative
Do you want to ban foreign governments and entities that they own, control, or influence from making campaign contributions or financing communications for or against candidates or ballot questions?
Question 3: Citizen Initiative
Do you want to create a new power company governed by an elected board to acquire and operate existing for-profit electricity transmission and distribution facilities in Maine?
Question 4: Citizen Initiative
Do you want to require vehicle manufacturers to standardize on-board diagnostic systems and provide remote access to those systems and mechanical data to owners and independent repair facilities?
Question 5: Constitutional Amendment
Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to change the time period for judicial review of the validity of written petitions from within 100 days from the date of filing to within 100 business days from the date of filing of a written petition in the office of the Secretary of State, with an exception for petitions filed within 30 calendar days before or after a general election?
Question 6: Constitutional Amendment
Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require that all of the provisions of the Constitution be included in the official printed copies of the Constitution prepared by the Secretary of State?
Question 7: Constitutional Amendment
Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to remove a provision requiring a circulator of a citizen's initiative or people's veto petition to be a resident of Maine and a registered voter in Maine, requirements that have been ruled unconstitutional in federal court?
Question 8: Constitutional Amendment
Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to remove a provision prohibiting a person under guardianship for reasons of mental illness from voting for Governor, Senators and Representatives, which the United States District Court for the District of Maine found violates the United States Constitution and federal law?
View the Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election (State of Maine)
Prepare to Vote
REGISTER TO VOTE
Voter registration is available for new voters or for existing Scarborough voters to change their address or name at Town Hall during regular business hours. Residents are encouraged to update their voter registration information or register to vote with the Town Clerk's office prior to Election Day to help reduce lines. View more Town Clerk election information.
What to Bring:
- Government-issued ID
- Something with your Scarborough address, if your ID does not have it
Please Note: 21 days prior to the Election is called the “closed period”, at which point residents who register to vote must do so in person in the Town Clerk's Office. The “closed period” starts Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
Find out more on Voter Registration on the Secretary of State's webpage.
ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS
Request your absentee ballot by completing an application either in-person or online: Print and complete the form, then mail it to the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at P.O. Box 360, Scarborough, ME 04070-0360 or fill out the e‑form request. Absentee ballots will be mailed when they are available. For further information on absentee voting and voter registration, please contact the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at 730-4020.
Request your absentee ballot by November 2. You can drop off your completed ballot anytime in our secure Drop Box outside of the Town Hall entrance. Or, drop it off inside during business hours.
EARLY VOTING
Vote at Town Hall, Monday-Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., from Tuesday, October 10 through Thursday, November 2.
ELECTION DAY
Election Day is on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Voting will take place at the Scarborough High School, located at 11 Municipal Drive from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
View our Elections page.
2022 Election
November 8, 2022 Election
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022 for the Municipal and Referendum Election, and the State of Maine General Election. Learn more about voter information and what will be on the municipal and referendum ballots.
On the Ballot
There will be 4 ballots: 1 State General Election Ballot, 1 Municipal General/Referendum Election Ballot and 2 Municipal Charter Ballots. All ballots will be two-sided. Be sure to double check when voting that you have voted on both sides of the ballots. Click Here to view sample ballots.
Charter Amendments
Within our Town Charter—the legally document defining the essential functions and procedures of our town—is a section titled Charter Review: “At least once every ten (10) years the Town Council shall appoint a committee to review the provisions of this Charter and make recommendations to the Town Council on any amendments deemed necessary or appropriate.”
On January 22, 2020 the Town Council voted unanimously to charge the Rules and Policies Committee with “develop[ing] a proposed action plan for the Council to follow in order to execute a charter review.” An Ad-Hoc Charter Review Committee was subsequently formed and held its first meeting held on January 12, 2021.
The committee held discussions over the course of several months and completed its work in July 2021. The Town Council was provided with the proposed amendments from the committee review period over the past year as follows:
- Final Report to the Town Council: July 21, 2021.
- Town Council Workshop: June 15 and 29, 2022.
- First reading before the Town Council: August 17, 2022.
- Public Hearing and second reading before the Town Council: September 7, 2022
The proposed amendments to the Town Charters must be voted on in a referendum.
There are seven total referendum questions on the November 2022 ballot. Proposed amendments include:
- Increase Town Councilor salary from $1,500 to $2,500 (to take effect after November 2024 elections)
- Increase Board of Education salary from $1,500 to $2,500 (to take effect after November 2024 elections)
- Change annual audit requirement to be completed and delivered to the Town Council not later than December 30th with the addition of the language “or as feasible prior to the budget process”.
- Further amend a Vacancies section to indicate that it is up to the discretion of the Town Council, not the Board of Education, the option to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term by a special election if the seat becomes vacant within six (6) months prior to the next regular Town election.
- Amendments to preparation and submission of the budget, which includes the addition of an itemized statement of all capital assets over $100,000 in value and replacement schedule, the distinction of cash contributions, donations, or gifts to any non-governmental organizations to be delineated in separate line items, and the addition of an itemized statement of specific capital investment recommended for the next five (5) years.
- Amendments to Nominations and Elections section to move the Board of Education election from November to June and adjust the nomination period accordingly.
- Require voter referendum on long-term financial obligations greater than $600,000 (capital improvement or single item, purchased or leased for longer than a 5-year term).
Order No. 22-080 provides the full details of each proposed amendment as will be outlined on the ballot.
The Scarborough Public Library building was established in 1989 and has made efforts to expand since the early 2000s (a vote to do so was narrowly defeated in 2006). “Today the library is seriously under-sized for a community of 22,135 residents, and more so than any other comparable library in Maine,” says a letter from the Library Board of Trustees and Director. The planning process for a library expansion began as part of the 2016 three-year Strategic Plan. In 2020, the Library used Town Council-approved planning funds of $390,000 to conduct work with architects and planners as part of a multi-phase engagement plan. The conceptual design is complete, and has produced a schematic rendering, floorplan drawings and a probable cost estimate.
All capital expenditures over $400,000 require voter approval per Town Charter. The Library Board of Trustees has requested that the voters consider granting appropriation authority up to $12,938,995, with financing to come from General Obligations Bonds. The Trustees have pledged private funding to cover any costs over $12,938,995, including relocation expenses to allow the Library to operate in a temporary location during construction. Private support will be raised through a capital campaign, and the Library began this planning at the start of 2022.
Resources
Council Workshop on Library Expansion (July 20, 2022) - Library Presentation
Scarborough Public Library - Expansion Project Website
Scarborough Public Library - Frequently Asked Questions
Library Expansion Project
The following question will be on the ballot: Shall the Order entitled “Order authorizing renovation, expansion, and equipping of Scarborough Public Library, authorizing issuance of up to $12,938,995 in general obligation bonds of the Town of Scarborough and appropriating the bond proceeds for the project" be approved?
All capital expenditures over $400,000 require voter approval per Town Charter. The Library Board of Trustees has requested that the voters consider granting appropriation authority up to $12,938,995, with financing to come from General Obligations Bonds for Library expansion at the existing site. The Trustees have pledged private funding to cover any costs over $12,938,995, including relocation expenses to allow the Library to operate in a temporary location during construction. Private support will be raised through a capital campaign, and the Library began this planning at the start of 2022.
Candidates
Candidates that will appear on the November 8th Municipal Ballot:
Town Council (2 Seats)
- Shupe, Karin B.
- Sither, April V.
Board of Education – 3 Year (2 Seats)
- Gammon, Carolyn L.
- Tarpinian, Frayla A.
Board of Education – 1 Year (1 Seat)
- Maiorino, Brian M.
Sanitary District Trustees (2 Seats)
- Carroll, Joseph M.
View current councilors on our Town Council page.
Candidates' Night
Thursday, October 13
6:00pm
Council Chambers, Scarborough Town Hall
Meet the candidates ahead of the election by viewing our annual Candidates’ Night, sponsored by the Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce with Kevin Freeman as moderator.
Watch the recording on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD5Y8CFy5HpXMftV3xX73aw