Election Day is Tuesday. Here’s what Mainers need to know
Read all of our coverage of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through the Maine Political Report in your inbox or text messages from politics editor Kirby Wilson.
Voters across Maine will have one last opportunity to cast their ballots on Tuesday in state and local elections this cycle, which includes races for U.S. Senate, Maine’s two congressional seats and governor.
Whether Mainers are voting on Tuesday or did so via early voting last month, this election is expected to spur one of the highest turnouts for a midterm election in the Pine Tree State in recent memory.
So whether you’re planning to vote Tuesday, still have that absentee ballot sitting on your counter, or are just eager to see how it all shakes out, here’s what to expect on Election Day.
WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT?
Your ballot will be made up of races on the federal, state, county and local levels. Some municipalities also have local referendum questions.
The race in Maine that has the eyes of the nation on it this season is for U.S. Senate: Republican Sen. Susan Collins is seeking a sixth, six-year term and is being challenged by Democratic candidate and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson.
All Maine voters will also be asked who they want as their next governor. Republican Bobby Charles, Democrat Hannah Pingree and independent Rick Bennett are vying to replace outgoing Gov. Janet Mills, who is terming out of office.
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In Maine’s 1st Congressional District, voters will decide between Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, who is seeking a 10th, two-year term, and Republican challenger Ronald Russell, who ran for the seat and lost in 2024.
In the 2nd Congressional District race, Democrat and State Auditor Matt Dunlap is facing off against Republican and former Gov. Paul LePage. One of them will replace Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who is not seeking reelection.
You can get to know the candidates in all of the federal and statewide races, as well as many local contests, via the Portland Press Herald’s free Voter Guide.
HOW DO I VOTE?
Where you vote on Election Day depends on where you live — some municipalities have one central polling location for all residents, while others have multiple places based on districts or wards.
With a few exceptions, municipalities must open their polling locations by 8 a.m. (they can choose to open as early as 6 a.m.) and close at 8 p.m.
The exceptions regard Maine’s smaller communities: Communities with fewer than 500 people may open as late as 10 a.m., and communities with fewer than 100 people may close the polls after all registered voters have voted.
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It’s best to check the hours and where to vote before heading out. Most municipalities provide these details on their websites.
And remember: if you’re in line by 8 p.m. on Election Day, you have a right to cast your ballot!
CAN I STILL REGISTER TO VOTE?
Yes.
While most methods of registering to vote (such as by mail or online) have expired, Mainers can register to vote in-person at their polling place on Election Day.
“To register to vote, you need to be 18 years or older on Nov. 3, you need to be a citizen of the United States, and you need to demonstrate proof of identity and proof of residency,” Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, the state’s top election official, said in an interview last week.
There are many means of proving your identity, such as a driver’s license, student or tribal ID, or a Social Security card.
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Proof of residency can also be displayed via an ID — as long as it has your current address. Other documents that display your current address, such as a lease, a recent utility bill, or a piece of mail, will also suffice.
WHAT DO I DO WITH MY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
While the deadline to request an absentee ballot was Thursday, you have until the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day to turn it in.
Most municipalities accept your absentee ballot right at your polling location — but some require you to still drop it off at a municipal office or a drop box.
That includes Portland, which requires absentee ballots to be turned in to ballot drop boxes, rather than polling locations, by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Portland has a drop box outside City Hall on Myrtle Street and another at 212 Canco Road.
To be safe, it’s recommended to contact your municipality or check its website to determine the correct way to submit your absentee ballot on Tuesday.
More than 313,000 Mainers requested absentee ballots this election cycle, according to the secretary of state’s office.
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As of early last week, municipal clerks around the state had accepted more than 222,000 ballots. A week before the most recent midterm election, in 2024, the state had accepted about 168,000 ballots.
WHEN WILL WE KNOW THE RESULTS?
It depends on a number of factors.
Some municipalities share their unofficial results the night of the election or the morning after. They have two business days to report their official results to the secretary of state’s office.
“In the closest of races, it may be a couple of days before we have those preliminary results,” Bellows said.
But it could take more than a week for two of the federal races, should they go to a ranked-choice run-off. That’s because the Senate and 2nd Congressional District races have declared write-in candidates, so voters will be asked to rank their choices among three options.
Ranked-choice voting cannot be used in the general election for state-level offices because of the state constitution. It can only be used in gubernatorial and legislative primaries, as well as federal and municipal races.
If no candidate in the Senate or 2nd Congressional District races ranks first on more than 50% of the total ballots cast in the first round, then the last-place finisher is eliminated, the second-choice votes of that candidate’s supporters are reallocated to the remaining candidates, and the results are retabulated.
That can take more than a week.
“Historically, it has been the Friday of the week following the election,” Bellows said. “But we hope to do it more quickly this year, if possible.”
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Tagged: 2nd district 2026, bobby charles, chellie pingree, election, election 2026, governor's race 2026, hannah pingree, Maine elections, maine legislature, Matt Dunlap, Paul LePage, public service, Rick Bennett, senate 2026, Susan Collins, Troy Jackson
Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts,. More by Drew Johnson
