Rangeley resident raises concerns about absentee ballot processing ahead of June 10 referendum

A Rangeley resident told the Board of Selectmen on June 2 that the town’s absentee ballot process did not follow the timeline described in the town manager’s report for the recent election counting.

The resident, Mark Beauregard, said he watched the ballot counting the night of the election and later asked the town clerk how absentee ballots were handled. Beauregard said the clerk told him absentee ballots were processed “throughout the course of the day,” and he added, “I’m confident that there were some issues with the process, the absentee ballot process, not the ballot themselves.”

Chair, Board of Selectmen, asked Beauregard if he had evidence to support his concern; Beauregard described his observations of the counting evening and the clerk’s explanation the next morning. The chair’s question — “do you have any any evidence or anything to to to present to to prove your case?” — was recorded on the meeting transcript. The town clerk, according to Beauregard’s account, told him processing occurred across the day rather than being completed at 2 p.m. as posted.

Town Manager Jared told the board during his report that absentee ballots for the upcoming June 10 referendum are available in the town office and “you can drop those off until 8PM on the tenth.” He said staff can help with procedural questions about voting and that in-person voting will be available on June 10.

No formal action or vote was taken on the complaint during the meeting. Board members acknowledged the resident was “on record” with his concerns and did not direct a formal investigation at that time; the transcript shows the issue was entered into the public record under public comment.

The comment came ahead of the referendum vote scheduled for June 10 and a special town meeting noted for June 18; town staff also listed absentee ballot availability and drop-off instructions in the manager’s report.