Maine Voting Requirements & Information

U.S. Vote Foundation’s Maine Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Maine voting rules and options. It focuses on Maine-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Maine voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Maine voting tools. It's an all-in-one Maine voting resource.

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

Maine Federal and State Elections

Tue Nov 7, 2023 - Maine Referendum Election

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Post Received by
    Tue Oct 17, 2023
  • Election Day Registration & Voting
    Tue Nov 7, 2023
  • In-Person Request by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Sat Nov 4, 2023

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Postmarked by
    Tue Oct 31, 2023
  • Received by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023 8:00PM EST

Early Voting Available

In-person Absentee Voting
From Sun Oct 8, 2023 to Thu Nov 2, 2023
See https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/index.html to preview the wording of the 8 questions that will be on the referendum ballot. Dates and hours for early voting may vary by locality. Contact your Local Election Office for specific dates and hours.

Tue Mar 5, 2024 - Maine Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Post Received by
    Tue Feb 13, 2024
  • In-Person Request by
    Tue Mar 5, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Sat Mar 2, 2024

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Postmarked by
    Tue Feb 27, 2024
  • Received by
    Tue Mar 5, 2024 8:00PM EST

Early Voting Available

In-person Absentee Voting
From Sun Feb 4, 2024 to Fri Mar 1, 2024

Maine Local Elections

Tue Nov 7, 2023 - Maine Municipal General Elections

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Post Received by
    Tue Oct 17, 2023
  • Election Day Registration & Voting
    Tue Nov 7, 2023
  • In-Person Request by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Sat Nov 4, 2023

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Postmarked by
    Tue Oct 31, 2023
  • Received by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023 8:00PM EST

Early Voting Available

In-person Absentee Voting
From Sun Oct 8, 2023 to Thu Nov 2, 2023
Dates and hours for early voting may vary by locality. Contact your Local Election Office for specific dates and hours.

General Information

Registration

You can register to vote or update your registration information:

  • by mail
  • in person at your elections office
  • at the polls on Election Day
  • at social service agencies
  • at DMV
  • online starting in 2023

Election Day Voting

Polling places open between 6am and 10am and remain open until 8pm on Election Day.

Find my polling place

Early Voting

A registered voter may vote early by absentee ballot at a municipal clerk's office beginning at least 30 days before the election. The voter will not need to complete an absentee application if voting in person. Contact your local clerk's office to inquire about early voting hours.

Absentee Voting

Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.

Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to vote in Maine if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen
  • Are a resident of Maine
  • Are at least 18 years old by Election Day

Voters must establish and maintain a voting residence in the municipality to be eligible to vote. People who are incarcerated for any reason can always vote in Maine.

You are not eligible to vote in Maine if:

  • A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote.

You may preregister to vote in Maine

  • At the age 16

You must be at least 18 years of age to vote, except that in primary elections you may vote if you are 17 but will be 18 by the general election

If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Maine if:

  • You reside in Maine but are attending college in another state
  • You reside in another state but attend college in Maine

Identification Requirements

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Maine you should provide one of the following:

  • Your Maine Driver's License Number
  • Your Maine ID Number
  • Valid US Passport
  • Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
  • Public Assistance ID
  • Social Security Card
  • Valid Student ID from State School
  • Certified Copy of US Birth Certificate
  • Utility Bill, Bank Statement, Government Check, or Paycheck that Shows your current name and address
  • Valid Military ID

Voting In-Person

If you registered to vote in Maine, you may be required to present valid ID if you are voting for the first time or your registration is incomplete. You can use any ID from this list:

  • Document showing Proof of Address
  • Current and Valid Photo ID

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Domestic Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online
Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?

State Elections Website

https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/index.html

Where is my Polling Place?

https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php

Am I Registered?

https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php

State Voter Registration FAQ

https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/elections_faq.html

Overseas / Military Voter Information

https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/uocava.html

Vote in Honor of a Veteran

https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/veteran/index.html

Where is my Ballot?

https://apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/ballot_status.pl
REGISTER TO VOTE REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

Maine Federal and State Elections

Tue Nov 7, 2023 - Maine Referendum Election

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023
  • Fax by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023 5:00PM EST

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Tue Nov 7, 2023 5:00PM EST

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Fax by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023
  • Received by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023 8:00PM EST

Tue Mar 5, 2024 - Maine Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Received by
Tue Mar 5, 2024 5:00PM EST

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Tue Mar 5, 2024 5:00PM EST

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Postmarked by
    Tue Mar 5, 2024
  • Received by
    Tue Mar 5, 2024 8:00PM EST

Maine Local Elections

Tue Nov 7, 2023 - Maine Municipal General Elections

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023
  • Fax by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023 5:00PM EST

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Tue Nov 7, 2023 5:00PM EST

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Fax by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023
  • Received by
    Tue Nov 7, 2023 8:00PM EST

Eligibility Requirements

Overseas Voters

U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:

  • Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.

Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.

Military Voters

Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.

  • If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.

To vote as a service member or eligible family member:

  • Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.

Identification Requirements

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Overseas Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online
Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

Military Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online
Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?

State Elections Website

https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/index.html

Where is my Polling Place?

https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php

Am I Registered?

https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php

State Voter Registration FAQ

https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/elections_faq.html

Overseas / Military Voter Information

https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/uocava.html

Vote in Honor of a Veteran

https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/veteran/index.html

Where is my Ballot?

https://apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/ballot_status.pl
REGISTER TO VOTE REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT