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Augusta, Maine, Fire Services and Infrastructure Bond Measure (March 2022)
| Augusta, Maine, Fire Services and Infrastructure Bond Measure | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date March 22, 2022 | |
| Topic City bonds | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
The Augusta, Maine, Fire Services and Infrastructure Bond Measure was on the ballot as a referral in Augusta on March 22, 2022. It was approved.[1]
A "yes" vote supported authorizing the city to issue $4,455,000 in bonds to fund fire and emergency services capital improvements and city infrastructure. |
A "no" vote opposed authorizing the city to issue $4,455,000 in bonds to fund fire and emergency services capital improvements and city infrastructure. |
A simple majority vote was required to approve the bond measure.
Election results
|
Augusta, Maine, Fire Services and Infrastructure Bond Measure (March 2022) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
314 | 71.20% | ||
| No | 127 | 28.80% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for this measure was as follows:
| “ | Do you favor borrowing money as authorized by City Council Order No. 22-015 to provide an amount not to exceed $4,455,000 to pay costs of capital expenditures for the acquisition of a fire apparatus and the reconstruction, renovation, repair and improvement of City streets, sidewalks and related facilities throughout the City? | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Support
Arguments
- Ward 1 City Councilor Linda Conti: "I want to say to everybody who hates to borrow money, because I hate to borrow money too, that this is an investment in the city and we have a great credit rating, so don’t be afraid. This is not something we lightly undertake, and we need to do this."[2]
Path to the ballot
The city charter authorizes the Augusta City Council to borrow up to $750,000 without voter approval. Anything greater must be submitted to voters for approval.
The Augusta City Council voted to refer the bond measure to the ballot on January 20, 2022, by a vote of 6-0. At the same meeting, councilors also approved $750,000 in bonds for rescue equipment and other infrastructure projects. The total bond project was $5.2 million.[1]
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Maine
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Maine.
| How to cast a vote in Maine | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll timesIn Maine, municipalities with a population of 500 or more open their polls between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., while municipalities with a population of less than 500 open their polls between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. All polls close at 8:00 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3] Registration
To register to vote in Maine, one must be "a United States citizen, at least 16 years of age to pre-register to vote, and have established a fixed principal home in Maine. To vote in a Referendum or General Election, you must be registered in the community where you reside, and be at least 18 years of age. A 17 year old may vote in a Primary Election, if that person will be 18 by the General Election."[4] Voters can return completed registration cards in person or by mail to their town office or city hall, any Motor Vehicle branch office, most state & federal social service agencies, or a voter registration drive. There is no deadline for voter registration if completed in person. If registering by mail or online, the deadline is 21 days prior to the election.[4] If registering through a qualified state agency, the deadlines is seven days prior to the election.[4] When registering for the first time in Maine, voters must provide documents verifying their identity and residence. The following documents are acceptable identification for the purpose of registering to vote:
Automatic registrationOn June 19, 2019, Gov. Janet Mills signed an automatic voter registration bill into law that was scheduled for implementation in 2022. The law registers voters through the Department of Motor Vehicles.[5] Online registration
Maine has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Governor Janet T. Mills (D) signed L.D. 1126 into law on July 9, 2021, allowing online voter registration in Maine. This legislation went into effect on November 1, 2023.[6] Same-day registrationMaine allows same-day voter registration.[4][7] Residency requirementsTo register to vote in Maine, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. Verification of citizenshipMaine does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote.[8] All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe Maine voter information lookup service allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirementsMaine does not require voters to present identification while voting. If a voter registers to vote on Election Day, he or she must provide identification and proof of residence.[10] | |||||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Augusta City Council, "Council minutes from January 20, 2022," accessed March 1, 2022
- ↑ Central Maine, "Augusta’s $5.2 million borrowing proposal, including key city projects, will go to a March vote," January 23, 2022
- ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 21-A, Chapter 9, Section 626," accessed April 14, 2023
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, "State of Maine Voter Guide," accessed April 14, 2023
- ↑ WMTW 8, “Maine governor signs automatic voter registration bill into law,” June 21, 2019
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "H.P. 804 - L.D. 1126: An Act To Update the Voter Registration Process," accessed June 8, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same Day Voter Registration," accessed January 31, 2023
- ↑ Department of the Secretary of State, "Maine Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "Your Right to Vote in Maine," accessed April 15, 2023
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