BANGOR – City voters looking to avoid the hassle of Election Day will be able to cast votes all next week by filling out in-person absentee ballots at the Bangor Civic Center.

Municipal employees will staff the civic center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, City Clerk Patti Dubois said this week.

“It’s going to be a very busy voting season, so people still need to be prepared to wait up to a half hour or more,” she said. “It’s like shopping the day after Christmas and not expecting long lines.”

Dubois said she already has sent out more than 2,700 absentee ballot requests by mail and about half of those already have been returned. Bangor has about 21,000 registered voters and the clerk expects as many as 90 percent to cast ballots this year.

“This is a lot of interest, and we want as many people as possible who want to vote are able to do so,” Dubois said.

In-person absentee voting differs from traditional early voting in that ballots are filled out ahead of time but cannot be processed until Election Day per state law.

Bangor is one of several communities that is offering in-person absentee voting this year in anticipation of record turnout. However, not every town has staff to offer in-person absentee voting, so voters need to check with their municipality.

Dubois also reminded voters in Bangor that in-person absentee voting will not be allowed on Monday, Nov. 3 and that City Hall will be closed to all business except voting on Election Day.

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