How to vote in Maine
Maine voter registration guide
Maine voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Received 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
Check your Maine voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Maine registration using the Maine voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Maine voter registration rules
To register in Maine you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Maine and the municipality where you want to vote
- be 17 years old to register and at least 18 to vote. If you are 17, you may vote in a primary if you will turn 18 by the General Election.
Maine online voter registration
Maine does not have online voter registration.
Maine by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Maine driver's license number. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. If you don't have either number, write "NONE" in this space.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention (unless otherwise permitted by a political party).
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be received 21 days before Election Day .
Maine in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Maine driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Maine address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Maine same day registration
- Summary: Maine has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your designated voting location. Click here to find out where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your Maine driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one document that shows your name and current address or your Social Security Number. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Registering to vote in Maine with a felony conviction
Voting rights are retained while in prison. You do not lose the right to vote.
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 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 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. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- 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 standard deadline (end of business on 3rd business day before Election Day) if one of the following apply:
- You will be unexpectedly absent from the municipality during the entire time the polls are open 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 starts close of business 3 days before Election Day
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Maine early voting guide
Maine early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 30 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 6 days before Election Day
What to bring
Only first-time voters need to show ID. You can show a driver's license from any state, a US passport or passport card, a tribal ID, a military ID, or any other government-issued photo ID. You can also show an student ID from an accredited college or university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
Maine voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
Only first-time voters need to show ID. You can show a driver's license from any state, a US passport or passport card, a tribal ID, a military ID, or any other government-issued photo ID. You can also show an student ID from an accredited college or university. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your corresponding return envelope to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail 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.
ID requirements for online voter registration
Maine does not currently have online voter registration.
ID requirements for same day registration
Bring your Maine driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one document that shows your name and current address or your Social Security Number. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
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