Absentee voting in Maine is now underway, with the state’s four Electoral College votes at stake, along with several other national, statewide, and local races. Maine is one of the two states, along with Nebraska, that does not have a winner-take-all system for all its electors. In the presidential race, two electors are awarded to the winner of the statewide popular vote, while one elector each is given to Maine’s District 1 and District 2. Maine is largely Democratic, but the 2nd District, which is crucial for a potential Trump victory, leans conservative.
President Biden won Maine by approximately nine points in 2020, an improvement from Hillary Clinton’s margin in 2016. The state has not voted for a Republican at the statewide level since 1988 and is considered Likely D on the Fox News Power Rankings. The coastal 1st District in Maine is typically blue, while the predominantly rural 2nd District, which encompasses most of the state’s land area, leans conservative. Trump won this district by 7.4 points in his last race and it is ranked Likely R for this cycle. The former president is looking to secure a win here to edge closer to the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
In Maine’s 2nd District, there is also a competitive House race taking place. Incumbent Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, is running against Maine State Representative and former NASCAR driver Austin Theriault. Golden won by 6 points in the last presidential election and has made headlines for questioning Biden’s mental fitness. Theriault is running on a platform of promoting more balance and less extremism in politics. This race is currently considered a toss-up on the Power Rankings.
Maine offers various options for voting, including absentee voting, early in-person voting, and traditional registration. Absentee ballots have begun to be sent out, and voters do not need to provide an excuse to receive one. The state must receive a ballot application by October 31, and the completed ballot must be submitted to county officials by November 5. Early in-person voting is available in Maine counties, with varying start dates, and residents can vote in person with an absentee ballot until the Thursday before Election Day. Voter registration can be done online, by mail, in person during early voting, or on Election Day, with the deadline set for October 15.
