PORTLAND BALLOT 2023
Rent Control Back on the Ballot
For the second time this year, Portland voters will decide on a municipal ballot question asking to amend the city’s rent control ordinance. The citizen’s initiative on the November 7th ballot asks voters to exempt landlords with nine or fewer units from these provisions.
Under the current rent control ordinance, most landlords may only increase rent by 5% and only once every twelve months regardless of new tenancies. There are exceptions such as owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer units and public housing units to name a couple. Earlier this year, a citizen initiative on the June ballot asked to amend the ordinance to allow larger rent increases, but two-thirds of Portland voters rejected the question.
The question on the November 7th ballot reads:
An Act to Amend Portland’s Rent-Control Ordinance
An Act to Amend Portland’s Rent-Control Ordinance will ensure that anyone with an ownership interest in nine or fewer rental units in the City of Portland will not be subject to the provisions of the city’s rent control ordinance.
Election Day
Polls open Tuesday, November 7th at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Residents can register to vote on Election Day. To register to vote you must provide documents to show both proof of identity and proof of residency. A driver’s license or state ID card with a current address meets both criteria. View a list of Portland’s polling places here: https://www.portlandmaine.gov/177/Polling-Places.
Absentee Voting
Voters may request an absentee ballot online or by calling the city clerk’s office at 207-874-8677. In-person absentee voting begins Tuesday, October 10th, in the State of Maine Room, Second Floor of City Hall. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Thursday, November 2nd, the clerk’s office will remain open until 7:00 p.m. This is the last day to absentee vote unless granted an allowed special circumstance. To learn more about absentee voting in Portland, visit https://www.portlandmaine.gov/173/Absentee-Voting-Information.
