Voting in Maine

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State Primary Election

06/11/2024
State Primary Election Day
06/11/2024
Voter Registration Deadline (in-person)

Vote By Mail Deadlines

06/06/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
06/11/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

The upcoming election is a state primary. Click here for additional info, including party requirements and what's on the ballot.

Polling place hours: Opens between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m.

Register to Vote
Frequently Asked Questions

Maine Board of Elections Phone Number: (207) 624-7736

Maine Board of Elections Website

Having trouble at the polls?

Call or text: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Register to Vote in Maine

Whether you are registering to vote for the first time, or need to update your address, name or party affiliation - we've got you covered!

Am I Registered?

Not sure if you are eligible to vote due to a felony conviction?
Click here to learn more.

Maine Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! You can check your voter registration online on Maine’s elections office website here, or you can contact the Board of Elections at 207-624-7650.

It can take several weeks. Most states send out voter registration cards within 5 to 7 weeks after receiving the registration. If you do not receive a registration card in the mail, contact your state election office to confirm you are registered. Find your state’s contact information in our How to Vote in Your State section on this page! In any event, you should verify your registration a week prior to the voter registration deadline in your state in case you need to fill out a new registration form or correct your form.

Elections take place all the time throughout the year, and odds are, you probably have an election coming up in your state! In addition to the presidential election and midterm elections, you have statewide, countywide and municipal elections that you can make your voice heard in. Make sure you know when your upcoming elections are so that you don’t miss a single one! Check out when your next election is here.

Your state provides an online ballot tracking system. You can track your ballot here!

YES you are able to register to vote at your student address. You should provide your official campus mailing address as well as the actual physical address of your on or off campus residence when registering to vote. If this is your first time voting, you must have some sort of proof of address and residency that can be presented at your polling place (mail, a student ID, etc.). For more information, we suggest visiting your state’s elections office website. Remember: you can only register to vote and vote in one place, whether that is your student address or your home address!

YES, unhoused voters can register to vote and use their voice in Maine’s elections. Unhoused voters or voters without a permanent address may list a shelter address, street corner, or park as their address. For more information on voting while unhoused, visit our friends at the National Coalition for the Homeless.

YES. In this case you must register at the last address you had before you left the USA, or at the address to which you will return to when returning to the USA (you must present some indication of a present intent to return and live there – e.g. vehicle registration, driver’s license, property ownership, family, etc). If you have never had a permanent address in the United States but are a citizen you are allowed to register at an address you plan on moving to or an address where you currently have family living. Access more information on voting overseas here.

You may call the voting rights hotline at 866 687-8683, if informing another poll worker isn’t successful. They have lawyers ready to help you. Additionally, you can call the civil rights division of the U.S Department of Justice.

You can also find Maine’s elections office here and contact them by phone at 207-624-7650.

Vote By Mail

Request and track

Notice: Mail-in voting is a convenient and safe way to vote, but your ballot might not count if it’s submitted late or with errors. So follow the directions below on how to vote early or absentee and make your vote count in Maine.

Vote By Mail Deadlines

06/06/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
06/11/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

How Vote By Mail Works in Maine

Voting by mail is a two step process in Maine.

Step 1: Request your ballot NOW. The deadline for your application to be received by mail or in person is the Thursday before Election Day at 5 p.m.

  • You may request your ballot here.

Step 2: Complete and return your ballot ASAP.

  • Return in person to your local elections office on or before Election Day at 8:00 p.m.
  • Or stamp and mail your ballot to your local elections office so that it is received by Election Day. We recommend mailing your ballot at least two weeks before as the post office is not always reliable. The best intentions or postmark will not matter if your ballot is received after Election Day - your ballot will not count.

Click Here to See Your Ballot

Where to Sign Your Ballot

Remember to sign your return ballot.

After you complete your ballot, sign the ballot envelope on the "voter signature line" on the outer flap of the envelope.

Be sure that your signature matches your signature on file with the state! If you registered online or at the DMV, check the signature on your license. If the signature does not match, your ballot could be tossed and will not count.

How You Can Return Your Mail-in Ballot

If you return your ballot by mail, you must add a stamp when mailing in your ballot. You can also return your ballot via commercial delivery services, such as FedEx or UPS (at your expense).

You can also drop off your ballot in person at your local elections office, or drop box.

Can Someone Else Return Your Ballot For You?

Any designated person can drop off a ballot for you. This person must return your ballot within two days of receiving it from you.

Haven't used your ballot?

If you have an absentee ballot that you are not going to use, or you miss the deadline to return it, you may go to your polling place and vote in person. Bring your unused ballot and turn it in at your polling place.

Opportunities to Fix Challenges to Your Ballot

Maine does offer voters a chance to address challenges to their ballot.

Your state has a cure period, which means you can “cure” a challenge to the signature on your ballot if it was done incorrectly. must cure the ballot as soon as you are notified. The deadline for corrections is 8:00 pm on Election Day.

Your local elections office is required to contact you and give you options to remedy your ballot. You may get a call from a number you do not recognize with a notification that you need to cure your ballot. Be sure to pick so you don’t miss your chance to make sure your vote is counted.

Voter ID

Do Voters Need ID?

Maine voters do NOT need to show ID at the polls, except for first time voters who did not include ID information on their voter registration form such as driver’s license number or last four of their social security number, or voters who are registering to vote at the polls. Valid forms of identification include;

Photo IDs that have photograph and name:

  • Driver’s license or state issued ID card
  • Passport
  • Employee ID card
  • Credit or Debit card
  • Military ID
  • Student ID
  • Health Club ID
  • Insurance Plan ID card
  • Public Housing ID card
  • ID card provided by a commercial establishment

Non-photo IDs that have name and address:

  • Utility Bill
  • Bank Statement
  • Government check
  • Government Paycheck
  • Document Issued by a governmental agency

Voter ID in Maine

Find Your Ballot

Enter your address below to see what you can expect on Election Day.

Primaries

Statewide Primaries

Primary Type (D): Mixed
Primary Type (R): Mixed

If you have previously affiliated with a political party you can only vote in that party’s primary. However, if you are not affiliated with a party you can request a ballot from any party.

The Maine primary election includes the following races:
– U.S. senator
– U.S. representatives
– Municipal government seats

In your state, 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by November 5th, 2024, are able to vote in the state primary election.

Automatic Registration

Your state automatically registers people to vote at their address of record when they interact with certain state agencies. If you have moved, changed your name or want to add a political party selection, you must update your voter registration. Click here to check to see if you are registered to vote, and update your registration if needed.

Election Day Registration

You can register to vote and cast your ballot on Election Day at your polling place or local elections office. Bring a valid ID and proof of residence with you.

In-Person Absentee Voting

In-Person Absentee Dates

Dates and hours vary by county. Contact your Local Election Office for more information.

You can vote in-person absentee in Maine

In Maine, you can vote in person at your local elections office with an absentee ballot from the time that ballots are ready until 3 business days before the election. You'll request, fill out, and return your ballot during your visit.

Preregister

Some states have laws that specifically allow citizens to preregister at a certain age while others allow registration as long as you’re 18 by the next election. Preregistration means you’ll be automatically registered to vote on your 18th birthday without taking any additional steps.

In Maine, you can preregister to vote if you are 16. Register to vote today!

In Maine, you can preregister to vote if you are 18 by the next election. Register to vote today!

Some states even let you vote in their primaries at 17 if you’ll be 18 by the general election so you can participate in the whole process!

You can vote in the Maine primaries if you are 17 by the next election.