Maine: Ongoing Absentee Voting
Campaign Status: Active
The Policy
An Act Regarding Ongoing Absentee Voting and Tracking of Absentee Ballots (LD 1690) will create an ongoing absentee voter list, allowing any voter to sign up just one time to receive mail ballots for all elections going forward. Learn more about the legislation.
Background
A growing number of Mainers are choosing to vote absentee, with 2022 absentee requests surpassing 2018 numbers. Currently in Maine, any voter may request an absentee ballot, but they must do so every time they wish to vote absentee creating a burden for voters.
Most recently, RepresentUs worked with a coalition of partners in 2019 to pass Automatic Voter Registration in Maine. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many jurisdictions to shift to Vote by Mail and polling indicates that Mainers feel comfortable and secure voting by mail.
With Maine’s track record as a laboratory for democracy reform and with the Maine legislature recently passing a partial ongoing absentee voter list, momentum is on our side to make this policy a feature for all Maine voters.
Who’s Involved?
RepresentUs is working with the Mainers for Modern Elections coalition that includes partners like the League of Women Voters of Maine, Maine Voices, Maine Conservation Voters, ACLU of Maine, AARP of Maine, Maine AFL-CIO, Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, and others to make permanent absentee voting a reality in Maine.
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The Latest On This Campaign

Maine Voting Rights Coalition Opposes Attempts To Roll Back Freedom To Vote
Mar 7 2023
If proponents of these bills really wanted to strengthen Maine’s safe and secure elections, they could advocate for proven solutions like ongoing absentee voting...
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Sen. Carney Introduces Bill To Strengthen Absentee Voting By Mail
Feb 7 2023
LD 26 would ensure that voters do not have to pay for postage when they mail their absentee ballots back to municipal clerks.
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Absentee Ballot Requests Surpass 2018 Total
Oct 31 2022
“No excuse absentee voting is a great option for many people, whether they’re busy and need the flexibility it provides, whether they prefer the privacy of voting at home, or whether they’re enthusiastic and want to cast their vote as soon as possible,” said Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
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