Absentee voting kicks off in Maine

Absentee voting successful Maine is getting underway, with the state's 4 Electoral College votes up for grabs and a fig of different national, statewide and section races connected the ballot.

Maine is 1 of 2 states successful the U.S. — the different is Nebraska — that does not usage a winner-take-all strategy for each its electors. In the statesmanlike race, 2 electors are fixed to the victor of the statewide fashionable vote, portion 1 elector is awarded to Maine's District 1 and District 2, respectively.

A "vote here" motion astatine the entranceway of the Waterville Junior High School polling presumption during the predetermination successful Waterville, Maine, Nov. 3, 2020.   (Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz)

Maine is mostly Democratic, but its immense 2nd District is captious for a Trump victory

Maine is 1 of respective Democratic-leaning northeastern states. President Biden won present by astir 9 points successful 2020, improving connected Hillary Clinton’s borderline 4 years earlier. And it hasn’t voted for a Republican astatine the statewide level since 1988. It is ranked Likely D connected the Fox News Power Rankings.

Like Nebraska, it besides allocates its electoral votes by legislature district. The victor of the statewide tally receives 2 votes, with different ballot for the victor of the statesmanlike tally successful each of its 2 districts.

The tiny coastal 1st District is coagulated bluish territory. The 2nd District, which is predominantly agrarian and represents astir each the onshore country of the state, leans conservative.

Trump won the 2nd District by 7.4 points successful his past race, and it’s ranked Likely R this cycle. The erstwhile president volition look for a triumph present to get 1 measurement person to the 270 electoral votes helium needs to triumph the presidency.

Key downballot races successful today’s aboriginal voting states

The aforesaid territory is besides location to a competitory House race.

Maine’s 2nd District: Incumbent Rep. Jared Golden is 1 of 5 Democrats moving successful districts Trump won successful the past statesmanlike predetermination (Golden won by 6 points). The erstwhile Marine made headlines this twelvemonth erstwhile helium said helium "didn’t know" whether helium would ballot for Biden again and was 1 of the archetypal Democrats to question Biden's intelligence fitness. This time, he’s up against Maine State Representative and erstwhile NASCAR operator Austin Theriault, who says helium wants "more equilibrium and little extremism" successful politics. This contention is a Power Rankings toss-up.

How to ballot successful Maine

This is simply a usher to registration and aboriginal voting. For broad and up-to-date accusation connected elector eligibility, processes and deadlines, delight spell to Vote.gov and the predetermination website for Maine.

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Voting by mail

Absentee ballots are opening to beryllium sent to voters aft clerks were required to person received printed ballots to beryllium sent retired by Saturday. Applicants bash not request to supply an excuse to person a ballot. The authorities indispensable person a ballot exertion by Oct. 31, and that ballot indispensable beryllium delivered to region officials by Nov. 5.

A elector arrives astatine a polling determination to ballot successful Portland, Maine, Nov. 3, 2009. (Reuters/Joel Page)

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Early in-person voting

Maine counties connection aboriginal in-person voting, but the commencement day varies by location. Check the state's website for much information. Residents whitethorn ballot successful idiosyncratic with an absentee ballot until the Thursday earlier Election Day.

A container for ballots successful a polling country up of Election Day astatine Waterville Junior High School successful Waterville, Maine, Nov. 2, 2020.   (Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz)

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Voter registration

Maine residents tin registry to ballot online oregon by message done Oct. 15. They tin besides registry successful idiosyncratic during aboriginal voting and connected Election Day.