BelfastNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Belfast City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 5 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Last day for no-reason absentee voting at City Hall (Oct 29): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council Ward 5

Unopposed

Each councilor must live in the ward they represent, but every Belfast voter votes in all three council races.

Last day for no-reason absentee voting at City Hall · Oct 29

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01Public engagement and transparency3 sourced facts

Where it standsCouncil agenda packets are posted on the city website the Thursday before meetings, and the council sometimes holds listening sessions.

What's on the tableWhether to add regular public forums, release meeting materials earlier, or change how the city reports its decisions.

02Housing and development rules2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council adopted a rewrite of the city's subdivision ordinance by a 4-1 vote.

What's on the tableHow the city's zoning and subdivision rules shape new housing and business development.

  • The council approved the second reading of amendments to Chapter 94 Subdivision, Chapter 98 Technical Standards and Chapter 66 General Provisions, 4-1, with Councilor Dean opposed. City of Belfast · Mar 17, 2026
  • The Congress Square Commons redevelopment of the former Congress Street public works property produced 48 mixed-income apartments. Midcoast Villager · Oct 15, 2026
03Cannabis stores2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council sent proposed adult-use cannabis retail rules back to the Planning Board to work on medical cannabis uses only.

What's on the tableWhether and how Belfast allows cannabis stores, and under what licensing.

  • The council approved the first reading of ordinance amendments to facilitate adult-use cannabis retail uses, 5-0, on Aug. 4, 2026. City of Belfast · Aug 4, 2026
  • On Sept. 15, 2026 the council voted 5-0 to send the ordinance back to the Planning Board to work on amendments for medical cannabis uses only, with the inclusion of licensure. City of Belfast · Sep 15, 2026
04Budget, taxes and the schools3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 municipal budget in June 2026 and set the mil rate at .01680 in July.

What's on the tableThe next city budget and tax rate, and how closely the city coordinates its budget with RSU 71.

05Public safety building2 sourced facts

Where it standsA city working group is planning a proposed public safety building; the project remains in development.

What's on the tableWhether and how to build and pay for a new public safety building.

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. How should the City Council hear from residents beyond regular meetings?

  2. 2. Should Belfast encourage more housing and business development?

  3. 3. Should Belfast have adopted the 2026 rewrite of its subdivision ordinance?

  4. 4. Which cannabis stores should Belfast allow?

  5. 5. How closely should the city coordinate its budget with RSU 71?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted5 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

  • Last day for no-reason absentee voting at City Hall (office open until 7:30 p.m.)City of BelfastOct 29, 2026
  • Election Day (polls at The Tarratine Hall, 153 Main Street, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)City of BelfastNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Christopher Bitely, Daniel Miller, Eric Sanders3 on this ballot

5 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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