How to Vote in Maine

In order to vote in Maine, you must first register to vote. You can vote in Maine if you are:

• A citizen of the United States
• An established resident in the town where you intend to register and vote
• At least 18 years of age

You cannot be turned away from your voting place if you meet the requirements listed above.

Your voting rights:

• Registered voters are not required to show ID in order to vote.
• You must be allowed to vote a challenged ballot even if you don't have ID or proof of where you live.
• As of January 1, 2020, you may pre-register when you are 16, but you must be 18 years old to vote.
• Registered voters who are 17 years old may vote in primary elections if they will be 18 by the general election.

Questions?

• The State's Elections Division is available at (207) 624-7650.

More Information:

• Click here for more information on establishing residency from the Maine Secretary of State's web site.
• For more information on voting rights in Maine, click here.

Need assistance? 

Call or text our voter hotline: (207) 558-3333

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Related links:

  What's on your ballot?

  How-to: Ranked Choice Voting

  Map: Absentee Ballot Dropbox Locations

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.

Need assistance? 

Call or text our voter hotline: (207) 558-3333

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Related links:

  What's on your ballot?

  How-to: Ranked Choice Voting

  Map: Absentee Ballot Dropbox Locations

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, by mail, or online, 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 online

Mainers can now register to vote online! If you want to register to vote for the first time, update your voter registration, or change your political party, click this link to get started. You will need to provide a valid ID number and don't forget to submit your registration three weeks before an Election Day so that your Town Clerk has time to process the application.

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 in-person at your local BMV

Maine now has automatic voter registration at your local BMV. This is a secure and efficient process that improves the timeliness and accuracy of our voter rolls. The system registers eligible citizens to vote when they get or renew a driver's license or change their address with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Click here to find your nearest BMV. 

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 fifteen days prior to Election Day. 

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

Need assistance? 

Call or text our voter hotline: (207) 558-3333

_____________

Related links:

  What's on your ballot?

  How-to: Ranked Choice Voting

  Map: Absentee Ballot Dropbox Locations

To find your polling place, just enter your address at the  Voter Information Lookup web page of the State of Maine.

Need assistance? 

Call or text our voter hotline: (207) 558-3333

_____________

Related links:

  What's on your ballot?

  How-to: Ranked Choice Voting

  Map: Absentee Ballot Dropbox Locations

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 an 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 Thursday 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.

Quick Note:

If you are 65+ years old and/or live with a disability, you qualify to apply for an ongoing absentee status. This means you can apply to have an absentee ballot sent to you automatically for each election cycle. You only have to apply once! Contact your Town Clerk to sign up for this service. 

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.

Need assistance? 

Call or text our voter hotline: (207) 558-3333

_____________

Related links:

  What's on your ballot?

  How-to: Ranked Choice Voting

  Map: Absentee Ballot Dropbox Locations

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: These 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.? Not required: Registered voters are not required to show ID in order to vote in Maine. However, you do need to provide proof of identity in order to register to vote. 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. You cannot be turned away from your voting place if you meet the requirements.

Made a mistake on your ballot? You have the right to ask for a new ballot. 

Feeling lost? Ask for help: 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.

Stay in line: You probably won’t have to wait too long at the polls. If you’re in line even when polls close at 8:00 PM, stay in line! You have the right to cast your ballot.

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.

Vote early or vote at home: Absentee voting allows you to cast a ballot without going to the polling place on Election Day. It’s anonymous and convenient. You can request an absentee ballot online, by phone, by mail, or in person from your Town Clerk. Learn more at: lwvme.org/Absentee

Voter Hotline: The League’s voter hotline is staffed by experienced volunteers and legal experts who can can answer election and voting questions. Call or text our Voter Hotline at 207-558-3333. Or email your question to: vote@lwvme.org

Many voters choose to join a political party. Maine has five qualified political parties: the Democratic Party, Green Independent Party, Libertarian Party, No Labels, and Republican Party. There are also some smaller parties which voters may join. These smaller parties are not listed on the voter registration card and are not yet large enough to hold party primary elections. The lists of qualified parties and small parties sometimes change as parties get larger or smaller.

Party Primary Elections
The political parties have a special role to play in some elections, especially those for President, Governor, Congress, and State Legislature. Those offices actually have two elections — a primary election and a general election. Each political party holds a primary election to choose the candidate to represent the party later on in the general election. When a political party holds a primary election, only voters who are members of that political party are allowed to vote. Some local and county elected offices do not have primary elections.

Voters Not Enrolled in a Political Party
Voters do not have to join a political party. About one-third of Maine voters do not join a party. They are called “unenrolled” voters. Maine’s primaries are semi-open, and 
unenrolled voters may vote in a primary election of their choice. They can also vote for candidates and ballot questions in general elections.

Some political parties are not yet large enough to be listed on the voter registration card or to have their own primaries. These smaller parties may enroll voters and help their candidates get on the general election ballot. Examples of small parties include the Alliance Party, the Yankee Party, and the Socialist Party. Small parties may be called “qualifying parties.”

Joining a Political Party
Voters can choose a political party when they register to vote. They are allowed to switch parties or to become unenrolled, but must wait 90 days after their last registration. Voters who leave a political party can no longer vote in the primary elections held by that party.

If you want to change your political party or unenroll ahead of an election, you have 15 days ahead of Election Day. New voters can register to vote anytime, including Election Day!