Maine
Land Acknowledgement
Maine is the ancestral and current home of the Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Historically, Maine is also the home of the Abenaki people.
Overview
In Maine you can register to vote by mail or in person. The deadline to register by mail is October 18, but you can continue to register to vote in person any time before 8PM on Election Day. If you are already registered to vote, you do not need to show an ID when casting your ballot. If you are not registered, you must provide either a Maine driver's license, State ID, or other documentation showing your Maine residency, such as a utility bill or government check.
Key Dates
October 10 – Early voting begins
October 18 – Deadline to register to vote by mail
November 3 – Deadline to request an absentee ballot
November 8 – Election Day!
Contacts
Contact the Maine Division of Elections at (207) 624-7650
Contact the ACLU of Maine at (207) 774-5444
Maine Voting Guide
Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.
Registering to Vote
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The deadline to register to vote by mail or to have someone else submit your voter registration is October 18. However, you can continue to register to vote in person any time before 8PM on Election Day.
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No.
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You will be asked to provide either your Maine driver's license number, State ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If this is your first time registering to vote in Maine, you must provide documents showing your Maine residency. Acceptable identification includes a photocopy of your driver's license, State ID, current utility bill, bank statement, or other government document that shows your name and address.
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Maine requires a residence address (not a P.O. Box). Your residence address must be a fixed location in which you intend to remain at for the time being.
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You can get a driver's license or State ID from the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
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No.
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No.
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Yes. You can register to vote at your town office or city hall, through any Motor Vehicle branch office, in most state and federal social service agencies, or at voter registration drives. You can also register to vote at the polls on Election Day.
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Yes. You may print out and mail your completed registration to your Municipal Clerk or the State Division of Elections.
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Yes. If you are currently incarcerated, you can register to vote in the Maine city or town where you lived prior to incarceration.
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The deadline to register to vote by mail or to have someone else submit your voter registration is October 18. However, you can continue to register to vote in person any time before 8PM on Election Day.
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Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.
Checking & Updating Voter Registration
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Maine does not allow you to check your voter registration status online.
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You can submit a new voter registration to your Municipal Clerk.
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Probably not. If you are concerned about the status of your registration, contact your Municipal Clerk.
Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off
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You do not need a reason to request an absentee ballot in Maine. All absentee ballot requests must be received by November 3 at 5PM.
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Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.
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You can request an absentee ballot online. You can also request a ballot from your Municipal Clerk in person, by mail, or by phone. There is no standard absentee ballot request form. If you send a written request by mail, you must include your name and date of birth, your residence address, the address to which you would like your ballot sent, and your signature.
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No.
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Yes.
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The deadline to request an absentee ballot is November 3 at 5PM. However, you should request your absentee ballot as soon as possible.
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Maine will begin mailing absentee ballots on October 9.
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Your absentee ballot can be mailed to either your address of registration or any alternative address you provide.
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Yes.
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Ballots must be received by November 8. USPS recommends you mail in your absentee ballot one week prior to the state deadline, but you should mail in your ballot as soon as possible.
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Yes. You can drop off your ballot at your Municipal Clerk's office.
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Yes. Your immediate family member may return your ballot for you. Alternatively, you may make a written request for a "third person" (someone other than you or your immediate family member) to obtain and hand-deliver an absentee ballot on your behalf. Contact your Municipal Clerk for more information.
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No.
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In general, no. However, if you designated a "third-person" (someone other than you or your immediate family member) to request and return your ballot, you must have your ballot witnessed by either a notary public, a municipal clerk, a clerk of courts, or two other witnesses.
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No. If your ballot is received by 8PM on Election Day it must be counted.
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Voting In-Person
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No.
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Yes. Early voting begins on October 10. Times and dates vary by location. Contact your Municipal Clerk for more information.
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No. If you are already registered to vote, you do not need to show an ID when voting. If you are not registered, you must provide either a Maine driver's license, State ID, OR other documentation showing your Maine residency, such as a utility bill or government check.
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You can get a driver's license or State ID from the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
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Yes. If your eligibility to vote is questioned, you may be asked to vote a provisional ballot. All provisional ballots are initially counted in the same manner as regular ballots. No further determination is made on the ballot unless a recount occurs and it is determined that the provisional ballot could affect the outcome of the election.
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Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.
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