The race is on for the vacant District 2 Freeport Town Council.

According to Freeport Town Clerk Tracey Stevens, two candidates are on the ballot: Sarah Tracey and Joyce Clarkson-Veilleux. The pair will face off in a March 20 special election to fill the District 2 seat vacated by Katherine Arno, who resigned in January to work for the Center for Public Broadcasting on Washington, D.C.

The Freeport Save our Neighborhoods Coalition will host a District 2 candidates’ reception Monday, March 4 from 7-9 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center. Candidates will speak briefly about themselves, followed by a question-and-answer period. A reception and an opportunity to speak further with the candidates will follow.

Freeport residents can vote March 20 from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Freeport Town Hall. Absentee ballots are available at the Freeport Town Clerk’s Office now through Thursday, March 14, at 6 p.m. There are four ways to request an absentee ballot; in person, by mail, an immediate family member filling out an application at the clerk’s office or a third person with an application, witnessed by either the Town Clerk, notary public or Clerk of Courts and two other witnesses. For more information, contact the Freeport Town Clerk’s office at 865-4743 ext. 123 or visit www.freeportmaine.com .

Freeport held a special election Dec. 4 to fill the seat of District 1 Councilor Sara Gideon, who resigned in October because she and her family moved from District 1 to a home located in District 3. In November, Gideon was elected to the Maine Legislature as the District 106 representative. David S. Gleeson Jr. was elected to fill Gideon’s seat with just 36 votes.

According to the town charter, once a council seat becomes vacant with at least six months to go before the next general election, the council must call for a special election to take place within 60 days from the date of the resignation.