Leeds, Maine Public Records

The registration deadline falls 21 days before any election, though the state also allows Election Day registration at polling places with proof of residency such as a utility bill, lease, or other documentation. No party affiliation is required to register, and voters may enroll in a party or remain unenrolled. Municipal elections follow the traditional New England town meeting format, typically held annually in March or June. Voters elect a Board of Selectmen, School Committee members, and other town officials, while also voting on the municipal budget and local ordinances. The next town meeting is generally posted at least 30 days in advance at the Town Office and on the town website. The community does not have a mayor or city council; the Board of Selectmen is the executive authority. State and federal elections, including legislative races and presidential elections, take place in November of even-numbered years. Residents can find their assigned polling place through the Maine Secretary of State's polling place lookup tool at www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/pplocator.html or by contacting the Town Clerk. All seats in the Maine Legislature, including Senate and House of Representatives positions, will be contested; the community is part of a state senate district and a state house district that may include portions of neighboring towns.Current federal, state, and local election schedules, ballot contests, candidate filings, and certified results for Leeds voters are published by the Maine Secretary of State Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions (https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/). County offices including Androscoggin County Commissioner seats, Sheriff, County Treasurer, and Register of Deeds may appear on the ballot depending on term expirations. Local ballot questions regarding town ordinances, school budgets, or bond issues may also be included. Maine election records that are publicly accessible include the central voter registration file, available to political parties and campaigns upon request, along with campaign finance reports filed by candidates and PACs, searchable at www.maine.gov/ethics. Candidate filings and nomination petitions are also public, as are precinct-level election results published by the Secretary of State at www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec. Voter histories, which show whether an individual voted in specific elections but not how they voted, are also public information available through the town clerk. Maine offers absentee voting without requiring an excuse. Residents can request absentee ballots online through the Secretary of State's Absentee Ballot Request System at www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl, by contacting the Leeds Town Clerk, or by downloading and mailing a paper application. Absentee ballot requests must be received by the Thursday before Election Day, though voters can request ballots in person until the close of polls on Election Day. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the town clerk by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted. The state also allows no-excuse early voting in person at the town office during the weeks leading up to Election Day.