2024 MAINE VOTER GUIDE
1.Voter Registration
Deadline to Register/update:
– In Person: Election Day
– By Mail or online: Received by October 15
Online registration not available.
2. Check Your Registration
Why check your registration? Your address is where election officials send notices, application forms to receive your ballot in the mail, and more. Additionally, poll workers will check if the address on your voter registration matches the address on your ID at the polls.
Check and Update Your Registration Online
Checklist:
- Is your name spelled correctly? (Correct hyphenations, middle initials, etc)
- Correct Address
- Active Voter Status (if not update by sending in another online/mail voter application)
- Correct Date of Birth
- Correct Political Party Preference
- Take a time-stamped photograph or screenshot of your registration, and take it with you to the polls as proof of your registration.
3. Voter ID Law
Source: Ballotpedia
Maine does not require voters to present identification while voting. If a voter registers to vote on election day, he or she must provide identification and proof of where he or she lives.
Provisional ballot rules
Voters in Maine are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, if a voter’s eligibility to vote is challenged.
“All challenged ballots are initially counted in the same manner as regular ballots. No further determination is made on the challenge unless a recount occurs and it is determined that the challenged ballot could affect the outcome of the election. Therefore, all challenged ballots cast in districts where no recounts occur will have been counted. If one of the candidates in an election or one side of a referendum question, requests a recount and there are enough challenged ballots to affect the outcome of the election, then the challenged ballots in that district will be segregated, and the basis for each challenge may be determined by the appropriate authority designated by statute or by state or federal constitution.,” according to the secretary of state’s website.
Was your provisional ballot counted?
According to the secretary of state’s website, “”All challenged ballots are initially counted in the same manner as regular ballots. …” Voters may contact the local municipal clerk or registrar with questions about the status of their provisional ballot.
4. Order Your Absentee Mail Ballot
Deadline for Absentee Mail Ballot application: Must be received by October 31, 2020
We recommend requesting your absentee mail ballot as soon as possible and well in advance of this deadline in order to ensure that you receive your ballot in time.
Mail Ballots may be returned if your municipal/county has a drop box location. Contact your local election officials to find out if your municipal has one: https://www1.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php
Deadline to return Absentee Mail Ballot: must be received no later than 8:00 pm on November 5, 2024
Surrendering Your Absentee Ballot: Maine does not have the Surrender Rule. If you bring your absentee ballot to surrender at the polling place on Election Day, they will still make you vote with a provisional ballot.
5. Early Voting Information
- Non-absentee early voting is not available. In-person absentee voting is available at the municipal clerk’s office as soon as absentee ballots are available. Absentee ballots are available at least 30 days before the election at the municipal clerk’s office. You don’t need to complete an application if you vote in person at the clerk’s office. The deadline for absentee voting in the presence of the clerk, unless special circumstances exist, is the Thursday before the election.
- In-person absentee voting will be available at municipal clerks’ offices during regular business hours.
- To find election information based on your address as well as video tutorials and other voter information visit:https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/index.html
- For more information regarding federal, state and local elections contact your state election official online: https://www.maine.gov/sos/ or contact Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions by phone 207.624.7736.
6. Become a Poll Worker!
- Become a poll worker!
- Poll workers must be 18 years old or over, and a registered voter (if over 18) in their county
- Sign up here: https://www.voteinmaine.com/work/