The Maine Secretary of State's office has received more than 40,000 requests for absentee ballots just two days after launching its online portal.That's roughly the total number requested in the 2016 general election.Many town clerks across the state are also taking measures to prepare for the surge of absentee ballots.In Brunswick, town clerk Fran Smith has obtained a new $2,000 ballot drop box. "It allows a voter to return that ballot 24 hours a day any time that they would like to," Smith said. "And we're going to have a security camera on it 24 hours a day."In the July primary, 58% of the votes cast across the state were by absentee ballot. In Brunswick, it was 80%, and Smith expects the same for November."We've been getting a lot of folks inquiring about it and a lot of enthusiasm from the citizens to have that option available to them this fall."In Augusta, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap is steering some of the $3 million he's received in federal election aid to reimburse towns for the extra costs associated with absentee voting. Towns can receive up to $1,500 to help pay for a new ballot drop box. Lewiston, Biddeford and Bath are all taking advantage of it, while places like Gardiner will direct voters to their existing bill payment box."Our job is to make sure that every eligible citizen who wishes to participate in the election can do so fully with confidence and without fear," Dunlap said. Fears of in-person voting, combined with concerns about Postal Service cutbacks, are fueling the drop box drive. Dunlap, who expects 65% of the state's 1 million registered voters to cast absentee ballots, is considering mailing them all applications.Those who have already requested an absentee ballot should be patient, Dunlap said. Ballots won't be printed until September, and cannot be mailed by a city or town clerk until 30 days before Election Day.