Aroostook voters are joining Mainers statewide at polling places on this Election Day.
At stake is one of the nation’s most watched races, which pits Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins, a Caribou native, against Democrat and former Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash, in the contest for U.S. Senate.
Voters will also select Maine’s next governor, a 2nd District representative and numerous local seats for town and city councils, school boards and county officials.
In The County’s major municipalities, contested races include eight candidates running for three seats on the Houlton Town Council and three candidates vying for two Presque Isle City Council positions.
Warmish rain greeted Presque Isle residents as they made their way into the Sargent Family Community Center on Tuesday morning.
Within the first couple of hours of voting, about 150 had visited the polls, City Clerk Kim Finnemore said.
“I expected it to be a little bit more busy than this,” Finnemore said.
A few people at a time joined the short lines to check in. At around 8:45 a.m., eight of about 35 voting booths were occupied.
The city has 5,488 registered voters, Finnemore said.
At midday, it was a different story in Houlton.
A steady stream of voters had most voting stations filled, and by about quarter to 3, nearly half the town’s voters had cast their ballots.
Of the town’s 3,549 registered voters, 834 had voted in person and 769 by absentee ballot, Town Clerk Khylee Wampler said.
Journalists from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times visited the polls as well.
Many people were registering to vote, including younger people.
Follow more Election Day updates on the Bangor Daily News live blog.
To track the outcomes, visit the BDN’s election results section online, where you can find maps and information for each race and municipality.
