Maine courts are temporarily requiring paper filings for emergency matters connected to the Nov. 3 election, even as the Judicial Branch expands its electronic filing system.
A standing order signed Oct. 28 applies to emergency filings under the state's election law submitted between 4 p.m. Oct. 30 and 9 p.m. Nov. 3, unless a court orders otherwise.
The order warns that a document sent through eFileMaine during that period may not be processed until the next business day after the election. The requirement concerns urgent court filings, not how voters submit ballots.
The Judicial Branch says paper documents will receive immediate clerk review and can then be directed to a judge. Filers are encouraged to include a phone number where they can be reached after hours.
On Election Day, courthouses in Bangor, Augusta and Portland will remain open until 9 p.m. for these matters, with a judge, clerk and marshal on duty.
Paper filings must be made at the clerk's office. Filers should not use eFileMaine for these emergency matters, the Judicial Branch says.
Public election-case documents will be placed on the courts' high-profile cases webpage as soon as practicable, the Judicial Branch says.