Voting Access Scorecard - Maine
The Franchise Project’s Voting Access Scorecard ranks how accessible voting is in Maine. The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. All metrics are weighted equally to fairly assess all states and their practices. If answered in the affirmative, each metric is worth 1 point, for a total of 30 points. Note that if a practice varies by county or municipality, e.g. the number of early voting locations in Wisconsin, the state only received 0.5 points for that metric. Note: Y=Yes, N=No, and V=Varies by Municipality/County.
Currently, Maine ranks 16. You can make a difference! Take action now!Overall score: 18.5 / 30
Y=Yes, N=No, V=Varies by County/Municipality
| State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html | Y |
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| State offers Election Day registration Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html | Y |
| State has automatic registration Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html | N |
| State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification) Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html | Y |
| State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html | Y |
| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/absenteeguide.html | N |
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| State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends Hours set by local officials. Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/absenteeguide.html | V |
| State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/absenteeguide.html | Y |
| State holds all elections entirely by mail Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/absenteeguide.html | N |
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| State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/absenteeguide.html | Y |
| State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery) Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/absenteeguide.html | Y |
| State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently Maine Secretary of State: https://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl | N |
| State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl | Y |
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| State allows voters to register online Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html | N |
| State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php | Y |
| State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/absenteeguide.html | N |
| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/right.html | Y |
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| State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/right.html | Y |
| If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all) Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/right.html | Y |
| During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form Maine Statutes 21-A, Sec. 161: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec161.html | Y |
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| State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck Bryan Caskey, Kansas Secretary of State, Director of Elections (email communication, May 24, 2023) | N |
| State is Member of ERIC ERIC, http://www.ericstates.org/whowear John Lindback, ERIC Executive Director (email communication, May 25, 2023) | N |
| State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request Maine Secretary of State: https://www.facebook.com/MaineSOS/posts/1557032821015086 | Y |
| State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/resident.html | Y |
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| State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/resident.html | Y |
| State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/resident.html | Y |
| State voting technology requires a paper trail Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA § 812: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec812.html | Y |
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| State requires poll worker training Secretary of State shall encourage municipalities to provide training biennially to all election officials. 21-A MRSA §505(7-A): http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/21-a/title21-Asec505.html | N |
| State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification 21-A MRSA §§ 809, 812: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/21-a/title21-Ach9sec0.html | N |
| State provides readily accessible voting technology information Maine Secretary of State: http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/elections_faq.html#general | N |
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