At the Yarmouth High School gym or via an absentee ballot, Yarmouth voters will decide on five questions on Nov. 4.

In-person voting will take place at Yarmouth High School in the gym, with polls open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Absentee ballots can already be requested online or with an application mailed to Yarmouth Town Hall.

In addition to two state referendum questions, Yarmouth will vote on two municipal referendums and a question on the water district. Here’s how voters can learn more about their local decisions:

Municipal Question 1: Upgrading the Royal River Pump Station

Responding to the Royal River Sewage Pump reaching its flow capacity, voters will be asked whether to approve the design and replacement of the pump for $7.5 million.

The pump, located near the Rowe School and last upgraded in 1992, handles two-thirds of the town’s wastewater. It first prompted concern when it exceeded capacity in January 2024 and overflowed into the Royal River, with following studies finding that it was operating near maximum capacity due to the town’s population growth.

In August, the Yarmouth Town Council unanimously approved a six-month development moratorium on certain areas of Yarmouth, giving time for the pump to be upgraded to handle more flow. The moratorium will likely be extended several times, as the new sewage pump is expected to be completed in three years if the project is approved this November.

If approved, the $7.5 million bond would be paid for in part by sewer fees, an annual revenue of $1.1 million that also goes toward other sewer maintenance and upgrades. Whether property taxes will go up to pay for the Royal River Pump Station bond is still being determined, according to the town website. While the impact on property taxes may be minimal to none, town officials committed to share the financial information prior to Election Day.

This ballot question is similar to a question last year, in which voters approved upgrading the Harbor Pump Station as part of an infrastructure bond for $7 million. That project is now underway.

Municipal Question 2: Extending the deadline for citizen petitions

When Yarmouth residents are in disagreement with a Town Council ordinance, the town charter grants that residents can overrule the action with a petition. After getting signatures from over 7% of registered voters in the town or 250 voters, whichever is greater, a public hearing and referendum vote on the action must be called.

Currently, Yarmouth residents have 10 days within the enactment of the ordinance to complete the petition. This November, voters will decide whether to expand this time limitation to 30 days.

This municipal question was called by citizen petition for a charter amendment, which collected its own signatures to amend the town charter. The petition was organized by One Yarmouth, a bipartisan group advocating for government transparency and connecting residents to the democratic process, said organizer Deborah Delp.

Water District Question: Repealing and replacing the charter

Voters in both Yarmouth and North Yarmouth will vote whether to repeal and replace the charter of the Yarmouth Water District, which services areas of both towns.

The new version of the charter will simplify the document, modernize its language and update the processes it dictates, said Yarmouth Water District General Manager Eric Gagnon. It will not impact water rates or cost taxpayers.

Replacing the quasi-municipal organization’s charter first requires the change to go through the Maine Legislature, and the act was signed by Gov. Janet Mills this spring.

The Yarmouth Water District will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. to discuss the changes with residents who wish to learn more.