Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR

Most of Maine’s substantive changes to its election law occurred during its special session where it rolled back the online voter registration deadline by several hours. Therefore, Maine received a C+ on this year’s progress report.

Looking Back

Where Maine Started at the Beginning of 2025

• Automatic Voter Registration: Partial AVR
• Online Voter Registration: Yes
• Same-Day Registration: Yes
• Restoration of Rights: No Disenfranchisement
• Vote by Mail: No-Excuse
• Electronic Registration Information Center Member: Yes
• Early Voting Opportunities: In-Person Absentee
• ID Requirements: No Document Required

Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for Maine as of 2024, we considered the state a top tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2025 activity against other top tier states.

How Our Tier Compares

• COVI (2024): 14th
• EPI Score (2022): 31st

2025: This Past Year

Legislative Action

Regular Session:

• LD 1148 directs the secretary of state to conduct a feasibility study on providing local absentee ballots electronically to military and overseas voters for municipal elections that are held on the same date as a statewide election.

Special Session:

• LD 1977 shortens the online voter registration deadline to 5pm on the day registration closes, instead of the current midnight deadline and sets specific timelines for when voter registrations must be transferred from various voter registration agencies to the secretary of state’s office, among other things.
• LD 158 sets a uniform 30-day period for when absentee voting in person may begin. Prior law allowed individuals to vote absentee in-person anytime the clerk’s office was open starting 45 days before the election.
• LD 1844 requires the Department of Corrections commissioner to provide information on voter registration for individuals that will be leaving incarceration. Although Maine citizens do not lose their ability to register to vote upon incarceration, voter registration is included in this bill as part of a broader re-entry service program that aims to help returning citizens prepare to enter the workforce and their community.