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How to vote in Maine
Registration deadlines, ID, mail and early voting in Maine, in plain English, with the official links. The Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions is the final word on every rule.
| Register online | Yes: 5 p.m. on the 21st day before Election Day |
|---|---|
| Register by mail | Received by your town or city by close of business on the 21st day before Election Day |
| Register in person | In person at your town or city office any time up to the close of polls on Election Day |
| Same-day registration | Yes: register in person and vote the same day, up to and including Election Day. |
| Voter ID | No ID is required to vote at the polls (you state your name and address), though new registrants must show proof of identity and residence when they register. |
| Voting by mail | No-excuse absentee voting; any voter can also ask for ongoing absentee status to get a ballot for every election. |
| Early voting | In-person absentee voting at your town or city clerk's office from when ballots are available (about 30 days before) through the Thursday before Election Day. |
Checked against the Maine election office's website on November 8, 2026. Deadlines are for general elections; primaries, runoffs and local elections can differ. Military and overseas voters have their own rules at FVAP.gov.
Official sources
- https://www1.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting
- https://www1.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/state-of-maine-voter-guide
- https://www1.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/registering-to-vote
- https://www1.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/absentee-voting
- https://www1.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/information-about-voting
- https://www1.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/elections_faq.html
- https://registertovote.sos.maine.gov/Home
- https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec121-A-3.pdf
- https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/21-A/title21-Asec671.html
Next
- Find who represents you in Congress and in the Maine legislature.
- Voter registration and civic groups in Maine.
- Every state's rules.