Bethel Town Elections
Note: This post is specific to Bethel, Maine. We’d love to grow this series to include other towns in Western Maine. If you’d like to contribute or know of readily available resources we can share, we’d love to hear about them and collaborate with you!
How do local elections work in Bethel?
Bethel’s system is typical of small towns in New England, combining elements of local democracy with town meeting traditions. Buckle up because it is a two day process so here goes:
Day 1: Election Day
Election Day is generally the second Tuesday in June.
Elections are held at the American Legion Hall at 85 Vernon Street.
Individuals can register to vote at the polls on Election Day.
Town citizens receive a ballot to cast votes for:
The SAD44 annual budget
Other town positions as they come up
Note: Absentee voting is available in person at the Bethel Town Office through June 5, 2025 and typically begins 30 days before election day.
Day 2: Annual Town Meeting
The Annual Town Meeting always falls on the day after Election Day.
It takes place at Crescent Park School at 6pm.
Town members vote on
every ordinance change
every “big” policy change
every budget item
you can see the 52 warrants being voted on this year here
The role of Select Board is to put forward items for the town to vote on so that, ultimately, everything is voted on by townspeople.
This system ensures direct citizen control over local spending, schools, and infrastructure so voter participation is critical. Low turnout can lead to a small group making decisions for the whole town.
Tell me more about the Select Board…
There are five seats on the select board and each member serves for a three year term. All of the select board meetings — as well as the Board of Assessors and all town committees — are open to public attendance and comment. Furthermore, they are all live streamed, recorded, and can be found on YouTube here.
You can find the agendas for all town meetings alongside packet pdfs here.
The purpose of the select board person is to research and put forth options for the townspeople to vote on. These proposals can be on anything regarding zoning, infrastructure, buying and selling property, and many other things that we are only just starting to figure out, here at The Kindling. (Want to contribute to this article? We’d love to hear from you!)
Additionally, the Select Board makes sure that the day to day operations of the town run smoothly. This means, for example, making sure that public works has what it needs to plow and sand the roads.
So to recap, on Election Day you vote for Select Board members. At the town meeting on Wednesday, you vote on specific issues that the Select Board has worked on during the prior year.
Why does all of this matter if the Select Board members just make proposals for the townspeople to vote on?
Great q! Select Board members:
control the agenda
They decide which issues are prioritized, how questions are worded, what makes the ballot, and what is omitted.
influence voter decisions
They make recommendations that guide voter decisions and control information (through forums and fact sheets) that has the power to sway voter perceptions of an issue.
handle day-to-day governance
Even after townspeople vote on the budget, the Select Board manages how the funds are allocated on a month-to-month basis, makes decisions about emergency actions, and manages key staff who implement policies.
set the town’s long-term vision
The select board interfaces with the state about large projects, decides how strictly to enforce rules and regulations, and manages comprehensive long term plans for the town.
represent Bethel’s values
The composition of the board impacts what is prioritized. Does the budget proposal include affordable housing or does it include tax cuts?
TLDR: The Select Board does not have absolute power but they are the gatekeepers of democracy in Bethel. Their choices determine what voters get to decide and how those decisions play out.
I’m in. Where do I go?
It depends. When do you want to vote?
Early voting is available at Bethel Town Office on Main Street until Thursday June 5.
Election day is Tuesday, June 10, at the American Legion on Vernon Street.
Of critical importance to the election process is the town meeting on Wednesday, June 11, at Crescent Park School. Note that you do not have to cast a ballot on Tuesday, June 10, in order to participate in the town meeting.
Who are these folks on the ballot?
The Bethel Citizen has some great pieces about the Select Board candidates which you can find here.
For Select Board: We are casting our ballots for Faye Cristoforo and using bullet voting when we do. You can read a message from Faye on The Kindling blog here.
For School Board: We are writing in Melinda Swayne for Woodstock School Board.
Melinda Swayne is a retired Navy veteran with 26 years of service. Melinda has earned a B.S. in Physiology from the University of Arizona (1997), an M.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Texas (2006) and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the university of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (2012). She started her Navy career in 1999 as a Naval Flight Officer and became a physical therapist in 2013. Her service took her across the U.S. and overseas. Melinda and her husband — both retired from the military — recently made Woodstock their home.
Why is voter turnout important?
High voter turnout holds local officials accountable and ensures that the actions of elected leaders truly reflect the community's needs and values. When more people vote, policies are more likely to represent the public interest and ensure broader democratic legitimacy. On the flip side, low turnout in local elections can lead to decisions being made by a small, unrepresentative group.
It would be strange if 20% of the people in Bethel chose the government for 100% of the population, and yet that is frequently what happens. Let’s get out there this June and make our voices heard!
Have lingering questions? Honestly, same. Email us at TheKindlingME@gmail.com — we probably don’t know the answer but we can find the person who does!