Rachel Talbot Ross, a Portland Democrat, is the first Black person in state history to serve in a leadership role in the Maine Legislature.

Maine's outgoing secretary of state achieved a high profile on election-related issues, but he says the rewards of the job came in small, personal spheres.

The state has rescheduled recounts in two legislative elections after a state employee tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the state to temporarily close office space.

Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said Tuesday that the recounts were requested by two Republican candidates who were narrowly defeated by Democratic House incumbents.

Several innovations aimed at improving the absentee voting process are expected to remain in place for future elections, although some may require legislative action.

The previous record was set during the last presidential election, in 2016.

Here's who were declared winners and a few who were expected to win in state legislative races in the Morning Sentinel's coverage area.

Portland is a Democratic stronghold, but progressives have had trouble advancing their policies through the City Council. This time they took it straight to the voters and won.

While the balance of power in the House shifted slightly to the right, incomplete returns suggest Democrats will gain one seat in the Senate and remain in control of the Legislature for the next two years.

Incumbent Quirion to serve fourth straight term and newcomer Drapeau has served on search committees for police chief and town manager.

Incumbent Rick Stubbert was elected to his third consecutive term on the board of Regional School Unit 18, and voters approved a new comprehensive plan for Oakland.

Two incumbents and one newcomer have won seats on the five-member board of selectmen.

Despite what is expected to be a record-breaking number of people voting by absentee before the election, numerous central Maine residents voting in person at the polls on Election Day.

Ranked-choice voting, an expected high turnout, record absentee voting and potential disruptions at the polls could produce delays in declaring winners, especially in top races.

State and federal laws regulate what's allowed inside and outside polling places in Maine. From firearms to clothing with political messages, here's what you can expect if you want to vote in person on Election Day.

For those planning to vote in person this year, area municipalities are taking precautions to ensure safety amid the highest coronavirus case counts in Maine since the pandemic began.

Clerks can remove ballots from envelopes and run them through optical scanning machines, but the votes can't be tallied until the polls close next Tuesday.

With Election Day only 7 days off, officials warn that any ballots mailed after Oct. 27 night not be received in time to count.

Here's what you need to know about the technology that Maine uses to count votes on Election Day.

Maine law requires local election officials to match the signature on your absentee ballot application to your absentee ballot.

The latest data on absentee voting shows that Democrats continue to far outpace Republicans in requesting and returning absentee ballots.

Dozens of Maine cities and towns have installed secure absentee ballot drop boxes to help voting go smoothly.

Polling places can get permission to photocopy ballots if supplies run low, but that will slow the count because copies can't be fed into tabulating machines.

Here's what you need to know if you want to vote early by absentee ballot and avoid polling places during the coronavirus pandemic.

Every councilor except Pious Ali is opposing the ballot questions drafted by Southern Maine Democratic Socialists of America, but all are silent on a 6th proposal, to lift a cap on marijuana stores in the city.

Question B on the city ballot would add enforcement provisions – including a private right of action for people to sue the city – to an existing prohibition on city employees using facial recognition technology.

Two candidates are running to represent Gardiner and Farmingdale.

While some states are bracing for serious voting problems, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap declared Thursday that Maine’s election systems are all in order.

Some mailings about absentee balloting, including a recent one from the Maine Democratic Party, raise questions about access to voting records.

Incumbent Tim Theriault, R-China, chief of the China Village Fire Department, faces challenger Lindsey Harwath, a goat herder, in a contest that pits individuals with diametrically opposing philosophies.

Republican Michael Lemelin wants to open small businesses up immediately, while Democrat Chris Hamilton wants to focus on a "safe approach."

With a record number of voters requesting absentee ballots, some want to know when those votes actually get counted.

The new system will enable voters to track the status of their absentee ballots online.

State Rep. Allison Hepler, D-Woolwich, is facing a challenge from Jeffrey Pierce, who she defeated in 2018 for the District 53 seat in the state House of Representatives.

Maine's system for removing voters from official lists has been criticized in the past, but state officials say they no longer follow those procedures.

Kent Ackley and Randall Greenwood will vie for a seat, representing Wales, Litchfield and part of Monmouth in the Maine House of Representatives.

Here's what you need to know to ensure that you are able to vote in the November election.

For the first time since 1998, more than 30 seats in the Maine Legislature will go to candidates, mostly Democrats, who face no opposition in November.

The latest numbers from Maine's secretary of state suggest voters will cast a record number of absentee ballots in 2020.

Rep. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, faces a challenge from Republican Toni Bashinsky.

An at-large City Council seat has two candidates, while an anticipated race for school board chairperson didn't materialize in Augusta.

The order gives clerks more time to process absentee ballots, limits the number of people in a polling place to 50 and requires municipalities to promote distancing among voters and poll workers.

The state is expecting 600,000 voters will cast absentee ballots – and an overall turnout of 75 percent for the Nov. 3 election.

Both major parties have their highest enrollments in at least 30 years, but Democrats are gaining members at a faster clip, driven in part by recent presidential and U.S. Senate primary elections.

Mainers broke records in the July primary when they cast more than 200,000 votes by absentee ballot, and Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap thinks that number will triple for November.

Four primary races decided by ranked-choice voting, including the 2nd District Republican contest, were not affected after the Secretary of State's Office discovered the errors.

The two-term Republican incumbent fended off primary challenger Larry Lockman by 52 votes in a closely watched primary. Rosen will now face Democratic challenger Beverly Ulenhake in the Nov. 3 election.

Socially distanced, but still in-person, Windsor conducted its annual Town Meeting on Wednesday night.

Belgrade also had a close vote, but its recount — completed Wednesday — confirmed former selectperson Dan Newman edged out incumbent Michael Barrett, 400-394.