Extended hours offered for absentee voters

SANFORD — The city clerk’s office will host extended hours from 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 for those who wish to vote absentee or wish to register to vote.

Absentee voting is already available during regular business hours, but Oct. 29 is the last time registered voters may request an absentee ballot under Maine law, with a few exceptions.

Those exceptions include an unexpected absence from the municipality during the entire time the polls are open on election day; or if a voter has a physical disability, incapacity or illness that makes the voter unable to leave home or a treatment facility.

All absentee ballots must be submitted to the city clerk’s office, located on the ground floor of City Hall at 919 Main St., by 8 p.m. election day, Nov. 3.

Court modernization bill moves forward

AUGUSTA — A measure to modernize and consolidate court facilities in York County, as well as Waldo and Oxford counties, was approved by the Legislative Council on Thursday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, will be taken up by the Legislature when it reconvenes for the second session in January 2016.

“I am happy to see that Legislative leaders recognized the critical nature of my bill and voted to move it along in the legislative process,” said Valentino, who was selected by Chief Justice Leigh Saufley in 2014 to serve on the York County Courthouse Advisory Committee. “These court facilities are in critical need of repairs in order to maintain efficient, timely, and safe access to justice.”

The bill submitted by Valentino, LR 2316, “An Act To Modernize and Consolidate Court Facilities,” would provide additional funding for building and remodeling projects for court facilities in York as well as Waldo and Oxford counties. The biennial budget passed last session included $300,000 to conduct a court feasibility study in the three counties.