2016 Absentee Ballots for Maine Election: Request Online

Maine Absentee Ballots for the Nov. 8, 2016 General Election are now available online. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap says any registered Maine voter can vote absentee, by mail or in-person at their town hall, prior to Election Day. Dunlap says voters do not need to provide a reason to vote absentee. 

The November 2016 ballot will include five citizens’ initiative questions and one bond issue, in addition to candidates for the offices of U.S. President/Vice President, Maine's Representatives to Congress, members of the Maine Legislature and certain county positions. The full proposed legislation of the referendum questions, which are listed below, is available on the Elections Division website.

• Question 1: An Act to Legalize Marijuana
• Question 2: An Act To Establish The Fund to Advance Public Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education
• Question 3: An Act To Require Background Checks for Gun Sales
• Question 4: An Act To Raise the Minimum Wage
• Question 5: An Act To Establish Ranked-choice Voting
• Question 6: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Improve Highways, Bridges and Multimodal Facilities

Dunlap says voters must submit absentee ballot requests at least three days prior to the Nov. 8 General Election. Ballots will be made available to civilian voters beginning 30 days before the election. Ballots for uniformed service and overseas voters will be available at least 45 days before the election.

The online service provides an email notification with a confirmation number. When the request is processed and accepted by the municipal clerk, the voter will be sent an additional notification and the ballot will arrive by mail. All Maine municipalities are required to accept electronic requests for absentee ballots.

Voters can request an absentee ballot by completing and submitting their request form online. The form can also be printed out and mailed or hand-delivered to their municipal clerk.

Dunlap says answers to questions about the absentee voting process can be found at the Voter Info site or by calling the Division of Elections at 624-7650.