How to Vote in Maine

Voter Eligibility Student Voting Register to Vote Polling Place Absentee Voting Early Voting Voter Rights Party Enrollment

Student Voting

Students have the right to register and vote in the town where they attend school. You must establish a voting residence there. Read more about Maine's residency under Maine's election laws.

You can establish a voting residence at your Maine school address even if that's a dorm or apartment. In other words, as a student, you must meet the same residency requirements as all other potential voters. Read more about Maine's residency under Maine's election laws.

If you pay "out-of-state tuition" as a student at a Maine college or university, you can still make Maine your voting residence.

If you are registered to vote in another state, you may vote by absentee ballot in that state.

If you were from Maine before going away to school, you may still register and vote in Maine (e.g., at your parents' home address) as long as you do not register to vote in another state. The only way you will lose your Maine voting residency is if you "abandon" it by asserting residency in a new state.

U.S. citizens who are 18 years old have an unquestionable right to vote. That right cannot be denied based on compliance with other laws that relate to residency, such as motor vehicle law.

However, you should be aware that if you register to vote in Maine, you will have declared residency in Maine, which could be interpreted to require compliance with other Maine laws, including the motor vehicle laws and tax laws. Read more here.

Remember, the requirements in Maine law that relate to residency may not create barriers that must be overcome before a citizen can exercise the right to vote. In other words, you need not prove that you are complying with motor vehicle law in order to exercise your right to vote.

Here's a great FAQ on student voting from the Brennan Center.

Voters with questions can call the State's Elections Division in Augusta at (207) 624-7650.

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Register to Vote

It's never too late to register to vote in Maine.

You can register to vote right up to and on Election Day. There is no cut-off date for registering to vote in person at your town office or city hall. On Election Day, you can register right at your polling place.
Voters do not need to be enrolled in a party to vote in a general election, on any statewide ballot question, or in a municipal election.

Whether you register in-person or by mail, you will need to provide proof of identity and proof of residence.

Here are examples that you can use to prove identity:

Government document or credential with photo ID (i.e. driver’s license, State ID, valid U.S. Passport, military ID, student ID)
Government ID document/credential without photo (i.e. certified birth certificate or signed Social Security card)
An official document that shows name and address of voter (i.e. eligibility for public benefits, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck)
Verified unique identifier (Maine driver’s license number or last four numbers of Social Security Number)

Proof of residence includes:

a direct statement of your intention to reside at a particular place;
the location of any dwelling you currently occupy;
the place where you have registered your motor vehicle (if you own the vehicle);
your current income tax return showing your residence address;
the residence address where your mail is received;
the residence address on your current hunting or fishing license;
the residence address shown on your driver’s license;
your eligibility for public benefits based on residency; or
any other objective facts that tend to indicate your place of residence.

Incarcerated persons: If you are incarcerated in a correctional facility or in a county jail, you are entitled to register to vote with your previous residence (a home to which you intend to return) before incarceration.

Homeless/Displaced persons: If you are experiencing homelessness or living in a shelter, you are entitled to register to vote in Maine, even if you have a non-traditional address. You may submit a physical description of your place of residence, under oath, to your town clerk instead of other residency documentation. Voters who are experiencing homelessness are not required to present a mailing address in order to register to vote.

Register by mail

You can pick up a Maine Voter Registration Application at your Town Office, at any Motor Vehicle branch office, in most state & federal social service agencies, or at voter registration drives. You can also print off the voter registration application here.

Need help? Here are instructions for completing the voter registration and application.

New voters who register by mail must provide a copy of certain identity documents with the completed registration form. The mail-in registrant may submit a copy of a Maine Driver’s License or other valid photo ID, a current utility bill, a bank statement, a paycheck stub or other government document that shows the voter’s current name and address.

Click here to find your Town Clerk's address from the Secretary of State's web site.

You may also complete the National Mail Voter Registration Form on the website of the Election Assistance Commission.

Registrations may also be mailed to the Secretary of State in Augusta:

Bureau of Corporation, Elections and Commissions
101 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333

Registrations mailed to the Secretary of State should be received thirty (30) days prior to Election Day.

Register in-person with your Town Clerk

Click here to find your Town Clerk's address. You can register in person at your town office up to and including on Election Day.

Register through a 3rd Party

In addition to your town office, you can register in person through any Motor Vehicle branch office, in most state & federal social service agencies, or at voter registration drives. But remember, voter registration applications must be received by your town clerk fiftee days prior to Election Day.

Click here for complete information on voting in Maine from the Secretary of State.

Automatic Voter Registration — now in effect!

In 2019, Maine passed automatic voter registration (AVR), which went into effect summer 2022. Now you can update your voter registration when you visit the BMV. Read more about Maine's AVR law.

Online Voter Registration (coming soon)

In 2021, Maine passed legislation to add the option of online voter registration. This system is scheduled to go into effect by November 2023.

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Absentee Voting

Absentee voting allows you to cast a ballot without going to a polling location on Election Day or to vote early. Any registered voter in Maine may cast an absentee ballot. Absentee voting is anonymous and convenient!

Tip: Don't procrastinate. It's better to take care of your absentee ballot sooner rather than later. When the online request portal is open for the November 8 election, go ahead and request it online. If you return your ballot by mail, you'll want to make sure it has enough time to be received by your town clerk.

All ballots must be received by your town clerk by 8:00 PM on Election Day.

There is a deadline to request your absentee ballot, which is the Friday before Election Day. After the normal deadline, you will need to provide an excuse. That can include one of these four reasons:

An unexpected absence from the municipality during the entire time the polls are open on Election Day;
A physical disability, or incapacity or illness that makes the voter unable to leave home or a treatment facility;
An inability to travel to the polls because the voter is a resident of a coastal island ward or precinct; or
Illness or incapacity that prevents the voter from leaving home or a treatment facility.

This special circumstances application must be signed by the voter.

Steps for voting absentee:

Step 1: Request your ballot in-person, over the phone, via mail, or online. If you're requesting by mail, make sure it will have time to arrive to your house and that you will have time to mail it back to your town clerk before the Election Day deadline.

Step 2: When your ballot arrives, follow the instructions and fill out the ballot. Don't forget to sign the envelope!

Step 3: You can return your ballot in-person at convenient absentee ballot dropboxes, usually located at your town hall. Explore our map to find the location of your town's dropbox. If you return your ballot by mail, make sure it has time to get to your town clerk. One stamp should do the trick, but if you have multiple pages to stick in the envelope, add additional postage.

Step 4: You can track your ballot to make sure it's received by your town clerk. For state and federal elections, track your absentee ballot through the Secretary of State's website.

All ballots must be received by your town clerk by 8:00 PM on Election Day.

Ready to request your ballot?

Request your ballot online

Click here for an online request form.

Request your ballot by mail

Click here to download a blank request form for printing:

Make your request early to allow enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you. Mail to your Town Clerk. Absentee ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

Click here to find your Town Clerk's address.

Request your ballot by calling your clerk

Click here to find your Town Clerk's phone number.

Request your ballot in-person at your town office

Absentee ballots are available to voters at least thirty (30) days prior to Election Day, through Election Day. Once available, you may obtain an absentee ballot in person from your Town Clerk. You can also vote and return the ballot on the same day when voting in person at your Town Clerk.

Click here to find your Town Clerk's address.

A GUIDE TO ABSENTEE VOTING IN MAINE

Click here for the State of Maine Absentee Voter Guide.

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Voter Rights

Your Ballot, Your Vote. Don't panic if you registered to vote but your name is not on the list. Get help from a poll worker to make sure your vote is counted. Remember, Maine has same day registration. You can still register on Election Day. You may be directed to another polling place. Or you may be given a challenged ballot.

Challenged ballots are a safeguard for voters whose eligibility is in question on Election Day, including those whose voter registration is in doubt, who may have been purged from the voter list by mistake, or who registered by mail and have I.D. problems. No one who is eligible to vote should be turned away. (The only eligibility requirements are U.S. Citizenship, age of at least 18 years, and residency in the municipality where the person registers to vote.)

I.D. - Don't Go Without It. You may need to show identification. To be safe, bring your driver's license, or a paycheck, utility bill or government document that includes your name and street address. First-time voters who registered by mail may be asked to present I.D. prior to voting on Election Day. If you don't have appropriate I.D., you may vote a challenged ballot.

Writing on the Wall. Look at the signs at the polling place for directions on how to mark your ballot, a list of your voting rights, and instructions for filing a complaint if your rights have been violated. Among other things, information regarding what constitutes a spoiled ballot and instructions for securing a new ballot should be provided. If you make a mistake on a ballot, you can ask for another.

When in Doubt - Ask. Poll workers are there to help you. They'll show you how to mark your ballot and give you a challenged ballot if you need one. If you're at the wrong polling place, they should tell you how to get to the right one. Poll workers are a wealth of information for voters. And you won't be alone - this year promises to bring out more first-time voters than ever before. You won't be the only one with questions.

In and Out. You probably won't have to wait too long. But even if the line is long, don't leave without voting. The outcome of this election will be important!

Avoid the Crowds. Many voters feel they don't have time to vote, and that's why they haven't participated in the past. If you can, go to the polls during the off hours: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Or you can vote at home! Absentee voting is anonymous and convenient. You can get an absentee ballot by phone, by mail, or in person from your Town Clerk.

Still have a problem? Voters with questions and concerns can call the toll free election protection hotline, 1-866-OUR-VOTE. The Election Protection voter empowerment program is a coordinated nonpartisan effort to address obstructions of voting rights. Questions can also be directed to the State's Elections Division in Augusta at 624-7650.

Don't think you know enough about the issues? Go online. Internet resources are available at most public libraries, and there is a wealth of information online. Keep an eye on the League of Women Voter's website for more on the candidates and the issues. Voters can find information on ballot initiatives, links to other informative web sites, information on how to find their polling place, candidates in their new electoral districts and much more.

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Voter Eligibility

Questions?

More Information:

Related links:

Student Voting

Related links:

Register to Vote

Register by mail

Register in-person with your Town Clerk

Register through a 3rd Party

Automatic Voter Registration — now in effect!

Online Voter Registration (coming soon)

Related links:

Polling Place

Related links:

Absentee Voting

Related links:

Early Voting

Related links:

Voter Rights

Related links:

Party Enrollment

Related links: