Maine Voting Guide

How do I register to vote in Maine?

When you register to vote, the Registrar of Voters may consider these and other documents as evidence of residency in your municipality:

• Your stated intention to reside at a particular place
• Where you have registered your vehicle if you own one
• The address shown on your income tax forms or public benefit checks
• The address where you receive mail
• The address on your driver's license, hunting license, or fishing license
• A lease or other document that indicates residency

Maine does not have online voter registration. You must register in person. You can pick up a voter registration form at your town office, city hall, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, state or federal social service agency, or at a voter registration drive. Click to see a sample card and instructions. You can also download a card, complete it, and submit it.

If you register in person you will need to show a valid Maine driver's license or a Maine state ID. If you do not have either of these, you may list the last four digits of your Social Security Number on the form.

If you register by mail you will need to provide a copy of your Maine driver's license, another valid photo ID, a utility bill, a bank statement, a paycheck, or a government document that includes your name and address.

When you have completed the form, you can hand-deliver it or mail it to your town or city hall or send it to the Secretary of State's Office in Augusta at the Division of Elections: #101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0101.

• For students: If you register to vote in Maine, you will be deemed to have established residency in Maine, which means that you will be required to get a Maine driver's license and you will have to register your vehicle with the Maine DMV within 30 days of establishing residency. As a resident of Maine, this is also where you will be paying and filing tax forms. See the Maine Residency Fact Sheet to learn about your options for voting in Maine or in your prior state of residency.
• For military and overseas voters: You can complete an application and request an absentee ballot by using the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP).
• For survivors of violence: Maine participates in the Address Confidentiality Program to protect victims of violence who may be at risk if their address and phone number were to be shared publicly. You must apply at the Secretary of State's Office to be part of the program.
• For homeless or impermanent voters: When you go to register, you will be asked for an address. You can write in a description of the location where you most often stay or provide the address of a shelter where you are able to receive mail. If you are registering at the polls on Election Day, the worker may ask you where you resided last night in order to determine which polling place you should use to vote.
• For incarcerated voters: You can register to vote using the address where you resided before your incarceration.

You are not automatically registered to vote simply by completing a voter registration application. The information you provided must be verified by election officials. You will be sent a postcard when your voter registration application is approved, or if more information is needed.

To determine if you are registered to vote, contact your local municipal election official.

When is Maine's voter registration deadline?

There is no deadline for registering to vote in person. If you want to register to vote by mail, you must do so before the close of business on the 21st day before the election.

How do I request an absentee ballot in Maine?

Any registered voter can choose to cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person. You must submit an Absentee Ballot Request to your municipal clerk or the Secretary of State. You can apply:

• As early as three months before Election Day
• Up until the third business day before the election

Unless special circumstances exist, such as unexpected absence, physical disability, inability to travel to the polls or incapacity or illness. If you wish to receive your absentee ballot by mail, request it in time to have it mailed to you.

If you are a military member or are living overseas, use the FVAP website to request an absentee ballot.

What do I need to bring to the polls in Maine?

You do not need to present identification at the polls unless you are registering on Election Day. If you are registering to vote, see above for information about the documents you can use to establish identification and proof of residence.

If you do not have ID or proof of residence, you can still vote using a “challenged ballot." You will then need to show ID after the election. Unlike many other states, Maine counts these provisional ballots even if they are cast in the wrong precinct.

What special accommodations are available?

Every polling place must have at least one accessible voting station. Maine uses an accessible voting system called ExpressVote to assist voters with disabilities. The ExpressVote is a tabletop ballot marking device that allows users to navigate a ballot using a touchscreen or a keypad with audio. The system generates a ballot that can then be used in the scanner found at most Maine polling places.

Maine strives to provide an accessible voting process. Polling places are required to be handicapped accessible, but if you are concerned about accessibility, you can discuss the situation with the local clerk or warden. If you cannot resolve the issue, contact the Elections Division at 207-624-7650 or 1-888-868-3763.

What do I do if I see something illegal at the polls?

If you see or experience a problem at the polls that you believe is illegal, whether that is voter harassment or intimidation, not being allowed to vote, or you witness electoral fraud, report your concern to poll workers. You can complain to the clerk or registrar of voters in your municipality.

You can file a complaint with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's Office at cec.elections@maine.gov or by calling 207-624-7650. You can also report voting law violations to the U.S. Department of Justice.

You can also contact a Maine attorney experienced in voting law if you feel your voting rights have been violated.