How to Register and Vote in Maine Elections

To register, you must be a citizen of the United States, 17 years old or older, and living in Maine. To vote, you must be registered in the community where you reside, and be at least 18 years of age. To be considered a resident, your principal residence must be in that town or city, and must be a specific home that you intend to return to even when away temporarily.

How and where do I register to vote in Maine?

Fill out a voter registration card at:

• your town office or city hall
• any Motor Vehicle branch office
• a federal social service agency
• a voter registration drive

Mail or hand deliver the completed voter registration card to your town office or city hall, or send it to the Maine Secretary of State's office in Augusta. If you mail your registration card, you must include a copy of your Maine driver's license or other valid photo ID, plus a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address.

What's the deadline to register to vote in Maine?

There's no deadline. You can register on election day if you want to.

Where do I go to vote on election day?

Every Maine city and town has its own designated voting place. It may be a school, a fire station, or other community facility. Call your town office or city hall for specific locations, or look it up online at the Voter Information Lookup Web site.

Any registered voter also has the option of casting an absentee ballot instead of voting in person. You don't have to be out of town on election day or have any other reason. If you can't or don't want to go to the voting place on election day, call your town or city clerk in advance and ask for an absentee ballot, or download an Absentee Ballot from the State's Web site.

Where Can I Find Information About the Issues on the Ballot?

As the election draws close, you can often find information at your local library or post office. The referendum questions are posted on the Citizen's Initiative section of the state's Web site. For each ballot question, click on "Legislation" to read the full text of the proposed law. For background information about the ballot questions, see the Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election. For information on the pros and cons of the issues and the candidates, see the Congress.org.

For more information on voting in Maine, see the Maine Voter Guide.

If your address has changed, you can submit a change of address form online at the Secretary of State's Web site.

For information about the candidates in the next election, see Maine Candidate Guide.