Maine (ME)
Eligibility
Age: 18 (may register at 17 if turning 18 by election day)
ID Requirements
To Register: ME driver's license number or last 4 of SSN. Without either, can register with other proof of identity: passport, military ID, certified birth certificate, Social Security card, student photo ID from a Maine school, or a document showing name and address (utility bill, bank statement, government document). Proof of both identity AND residency required when registering.
To Vote: No ID required (first-time voters who registered by mail may need to show ID)
Registration Methods
- Online: Residents can submit a voter registration application electronically through the state's website, rather than by mail or in person.
- Mail: Residents can register to vote by completing a paper registration form and submitting it by mail to the appropriate election office.
- In Person: Residents can register to vote by visiting a designated government office, such as a county clerk's office or DMV, and completing a registration form on site.
Early Voting
A period before Election Day during which voters can cast their ballots in person at designated polling locations. The length of the early voting period varies by state.
In-person absentee voting available at town clerk offices 30–45 days before election.
Mail-In / Absentee Voting
A voting method where ballots are automatically mailed to all registered voters without requiring a specific request. States that use this approach conduct elections primarily or entirely by mail.
No-excuse absentee voting available for all registered voters.
Felony Voting Rules
State laws governing whether and when people with felony convictions can vote. Policies range from no restrictions to permanent disenfranchisement, with most states restoring rights at some point after sentencing.
No disenfranchisement. People in prison may vote (Maine never revokes voting rights for felony conviction).
Documentation Needed
- Proof of identity and residency for same-day registration
Additional Notes
Maine allows incarcerated individuals to vote. Uses ranked-choice voting for federal and gubernatorial elections.
Recent News
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Maine legislators weigh expanding state's ranked-choice voting system
The Maine legislature approved legislation to expand ranked-choice voting to gubernatorial and state legislative elections, pending a constitutional advisory opinion.
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Maine Rejects Anti-Voting Ballot Measure, Reaffirms Voting Access
Analysis of Maine's decisive rejection of Question 1, which would have imposed voter photo ID requirements and restricted absentee voting access.
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Maine voters reject voter ID requirement, absentee voting changes
Maine voters rejected Question 1 by a 62.5%-37.5% margin, defeating a measure that would have required photo ID to vote and limited absentee voting access.
Sources
Last verified: Feb 24, 2026
Change Log
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Recent NewsAdded recent news items