Maine absentee and mail ballot guide
Maine absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Maine absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: 90 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 5 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Maine absentee ballot rules
Any registered Maine voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Maine online ballot request (recommended)
- Visit the Maine absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 5 days before Election Day.
Maine by-mail ballot request
- Download the Maine absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 5 days before Election Day.
Maine in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 5 days before Election Day.
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Maine absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your corresponding return envelope to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Maine absentee ballot tracker
Track your ballot here: Maine absentee ballot tracker
Maine absentee ballot curing
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the on that the state has on file for you.
- You must make corrections by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Maine emergency ballots
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot RulesYou may request an emergency ballot after the regular absentee ballot deadline if one of the following applies:
- You will be unexpectedly absent from the municipality on Election Day
- You have a physical disability
- You are unable to travel to the polls as a resident of a coastal island ward or precinct
- You have an incapacity or illness that has resulted in being unable to leave home or a treatment facility
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Maine elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Elections Division Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions 101 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333‐0101
External resources
- Maine online absentee ballot request
- Maine voter status lookup
- Maine absentee ballot tracker
- Maine polling place locator