You don’t need to show ID unless you are registering to vote at your polling place on Election Day.

No matter what, you can’t be turned away from your polling place - you must at least be allowed to cast a contested ballot.



2014 – IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Thursday, October 30: Last day to request an absentee ballot in most cases

Tuesday, November 4: Election Day



WHO CAN VOTE

You can vote as long as you are: 18 years or older, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the municipality in which you want to vote.

A 17-year-old may vote in a primary election if that person will be 18 by the general election.
Being incarcerated or having a criminal record DOES NOT take away your right to vote in Maine.



REGISTRATION

You can register to vote at your town office or city hall, through any Motor Vehicle branch office, in most state and federal social service agencies, or by requesting a voter registration form from the Secretary of State.

If you are not registered to vote before Election Day, you can register at your polling place when you go to vote. You will need to show ID and proof of where you live.



VOTING EARLY

You can cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person on Election Day. You do not need to give a reason.

Absentee ballots may be requested beginning three months before Election Day, until the third business day prior to the election.

Request an absentee ballot by contacting the clerk in the municipality where you live or using the Secretary of State’s online absentee ballot request form.



VOTING ON ELECTION DAY

Polling places open sometime between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Election Day, depending on the size of the municipality. All polling places close at 8:00 p.m.

If you need help reading or marking your ballot, you may ask a friend or relative to help you. You may also ask a polling official to help you read or mark your ballot.



VOTER ID

If you are registered to vote, you are NOT required to show ID at the polls to cast a ballot.

You will need to show ID if you are registering to vote at your polling place on Election Day.



PROBLEMS AT THE POLLS

You cannot be turned away at your polling place. Even if there is a problem, you must be allowed to cast a challenged ballot.

If you make a mistake on your ballot, you can ask for a new one.

No one may harass you at the polls or attempt to intimidate you into voting a certain way. If that happens, talk to a polling official or your town clerk.



MORE INFORMATION

If you think you have been wrongfully denied the right to vote or treated unfairly at the polls, contact the ACLU of Maine: (207) 774-5444