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News Feature

Our Community
Originally published in Compass, October 11, 2012
Voting eligibility and registering to vote

In order to register to vote in Maine, you must be a U.S. citizen, live in a town or city in Maine and be at least 17 years old to register (if you will be 18 by Election Day).

To register to vote as a new Maine voter, you must have ID (a Maine driver’s license number or list the last four digits of your Social Security Number).

You must also have “proof of residency.” This proof can be many different things that have the address of your place of residence in the municipality on it: bills or letters mailed to you (if not a P.O. Box), a copy of a lease, a tax return, current hunting or fishing license or “any other objective facts that tend to indicate your place of residence.”

If you have moved from one Maine town to another, and were previously registered in the state, all you need is proof of residency.

According to the Secretary of State, it’s never too late to register to vote in Maine. You can register in person at your town office up to and including election day.

Do I need to show ID to vote?

No. In Maine, if you are registered to vote you do not need to show ID—just state your name to the poll clerk. You only need to have ID if you are registering as a new Maine voter. Even if you are registering to vote in a different Maine municipality on the day of the election, you only need to show proof of residency (see above).

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