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Maine | Voting Guide
Voting Guide
Maine
Registration Deadlines and Election Dates
Voter Registration Deadline: 21 days before Election Day if registering online or by mail.
Eligible voters may register in person up to and including Election Day at their town office or city hall. More information regarding voter registration can be found here: https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html
2024 Election Information
Presidential Primary: March 5, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline: February 13 (mail and online only)
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: February 29 at 5:00pm
State Primary: June 11, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline: May 21 (mail and online only)
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: June 6 at 5:00pm
General Election: November 5, 2024
Voter Registration Deadline: October 15 (mail and online only)
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: October 31 at 5:00pm
Official Election Websites
More election information available at: maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/
Online Voter Registration available at: https://registertovote.sos.maine.gov/
Mail-in PDF Voter Registration Form available at:
Register at School or Home
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family's home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Register?
The registration form requires you to provide your Maine driver’s license or state ID card number if you have one, or else the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Eligible voters registering for the first time in Maine who submit their registration forms by mail must also include a copy of one of the following types of ID:
Government document or credential with photo ID (i.e. driver’s license, State ID, valid U.S. Passport, military ID, ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe)
Government ID document/credential without photo (i.e. certified birth certificate or signed Social Security card)
An official document that shows name and address of voter (i.e. eligibility for public benefits, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck)
Student photo ID from a state-approved public or private school or institute of higher education in Maine
Verified unique identifier (Maine driver’s license number or last four numbers of Social Security Number)
What Type of ID Do I Need to Vote?
Maine does not require voters to present an ID to vote.
Where Do I Vote?
Make a plan. Look up your voting site and hours at:
How Can I Vote?
By Mail: Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot without an excuse.
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: Absentee ballot request forms must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday before Election Day. You can request your ballot by contacting your municipal clerk’s office or completing a request form online. Please note, as of February 1, 2024, voters over 65 years old or who self-identify as having a disability may apply for ongoing absentee voter status to automatically receive absentee ballots for each election.
Completed Mail-in Ballot Return Deadline: Completed absentee ballots must be received by the municipal clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can return your absentee ballot by mail, in person at your municipal clerk’s office, or at a designated secure drop box. Please contact your municipal clerk’s office for drop box locations.
Voters with disabilities can receive, mark, and submit their absentee ballots electronically. For more information, visit: maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/accessiblevoting.html.
Early In-Person: Any registered voter can vote early by filling out an absentee ballot in-person at the municipal clerk’s office prior to Election Day. Absentee ballots are generally available at a municipal clerk’s office 30 days before Election Day until the Thursday prior to Election Day.
Election Day: Voting sites will open between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., depending on your municipality, and will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, then you have the right to vote.
Common Questions/Concerns
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Federal Financial Aid?
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Status as a Dependent on Your Parents’ Taxes?
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Does Registering to Vote impact my Tuition Status?
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in Maine affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a new resident of Maine, you may have to obtain a Maine driver’s license and update your car’s registration, regardless of whether you register to vote there. For more information, you may wish to contact the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Maine legal professional.
Last updated March 2024