LEWISTON – Maine Public Broadcasting Corp. television stations will air special Election 2002 programming beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.

The shows, “Route ’02” and “Public Opinion” focus on what the people of Maine are thinking about as Election Day approaches.

At 9 p.m., Don Carrigan, executive producer of public affairs for Maine PBS, travels to Maine towns to interview people about election issues.

At 9:30 p.m., Renee Ordway of the Bangor Daily News is host for the citizens forum program featuring panelists debating about the candidates and election issues. Also, John Greenman, Maine PBS public affairs producer, gathered comments from fair-goers and mall shoppers, and compiled them into a report called “Interviews 50 Cents,” which will air on the show.

For more information, visit the “Press Room” Web site at www.mpbc.org.