How to vote in Maine
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): N/A
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Received by 21 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Maine voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Received by 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- 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.
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 does not have online 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 by 21 days before Election Day.
- 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 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.
- 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.
Voting rights are retained while in prison. You do not lose the right to vote.
- You can vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Maine absentee and mail ballot guide
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
- 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
Any registered Maine voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Track your ballot here: Maine absentee ballot tracker
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.
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 Rules
You 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
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Maine early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 30 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 6 days before Election Day
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
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.
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your corresponding return envelope to ensure they match.
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 does not currently have online voter 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