What to expect in Maine on Election Day

WASHINGTON (AP) — Maine voters will decide on a pair of high-profile ballot measures addressing elections and gun violence in a statewide referendum election Tuesday.

The first question would make several changes to the state’s voting procedures, most notably requiring voters to present photo ID at the polls. The second question would implement a gun control measure known as a “red flag” law similar to those in place in 21 states.

Read more: Maine and Texas are the latest fronts in the voting battles, with voter ID and citizenship on the ballot

The measures represent the latest efforts to put the two hot-button national issues directly before voters at the state ballot. Elections are on November 4.

The first question on the ballot was put on the ballot with support from The Dinner Table, a conservative political action committee. President Donald Trump and Republicans at the national and state levels have sought to reform the country’s voting procedures, including requiring voters to show ID to vote.

It is the responsibility of Secretary of State Sheena Bellows to formulate the ballot question, taking into account feedback from the public. Bellows, a Democrat, generally opposes adding new restrictions on voting.

The final ballot language as written by Bellows’ office is: “Do you want to change Maine’s election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, ban absentee ballot requests by phone or family members, end continuous absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show a certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”

Republican backers of the measure challenged Bellows’ wording in court, arguing it was confusing and misleading, but a decision issued by the Maine Supreme Court in July upheld the ballot question as written by the secretary of state.

The second question, a proposed “red flag” law, would allow both law enforcement officials and an individual’s family members to ask a court to temporarily prohibit a person from possessing firearms or “dangerous weapons” if they can prove that person poses a “substantial danger” to themselves or others. The proposed law would build on Maine’s current “yellow flag” law, which only allows law enforcement officials to petition the courts.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills opposes the second question, saying the petition process is best left to the courts for law enforcement.

The debate over “red flag” and “yellow flag” laws took on new significance in October 2023 after a U.S. Army reservist killed 18 people at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston, Maine, in the state’s deadliest mass shooting.

Read more: The special committee’s report found that military and police missed opportunities to intervene before the mass shooting in Maine

Statewide votes on election procedures and gun control across the country tend to fall along party lines. In Maine, the Democratic governor’s opposition to the second question could disrupt traditional voting patterns.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris won the statewide vote in Maine in 2024 with about 52% of the vote, compared to about 46% for Trump. Her support came mostly from heavily Democratic areas along the coast of southern Maine, which constitute the heart of the state’s Democratic base. This includes the most populous counties of Cumberland, home to Portland, and York.

Trump prevailed in the less populated areas that geographically make up the bulk of the state. He carried the state’s 2nd Congressional District with about 54% of the vote, receiving one of Maine’s four electoral votes.

Although Maine is divided into 16 counties, elections are held at the city and town level, a common practice in New England.

The Associated Press does not provide projections, and will declare a winner only when it is determined that no scenario exists that would allow the late nominees to close the gap. If the race is not called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or announcements of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet announced a winner and explain why.

Maine does not have automatic recounts, but voters can request one for a statewide ballot question by getting at least 200 registered voters to sign a petition within eight business days after the election. The state will pay the costs of the recount if the margin between yes or no votes is 1% or less of the total votes cast, or no more than 1,000 votes, whichever is less. The AP may declare a winner in a race eligible for a recount if it can determine that the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

Here’s a look at what to expect on November 4:

How long will the polls be open?

Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

What’s on the ballot?

The AP will present the voting results and announce the winners of the two statewide ballot measures, Questions 1 and 2.

Who is entitled to vote?

Any registered voter in Maine may participate in the election.

What does turnout and advance voting look like?

As of February 6, there were more than 1 million registered voters in Maine. Of these, 34% were Democrats, about 30% were Republicans, and 30% were not registered with any party. The rest were registered with other parties.

More than 410,000 votes were cast in the 2023 referendum election, or nearly 36% of registered voters. About 26% of the votes in that election were cast before Election Day.

As of Friday, nearly 56,000 votes had been cast before Election Day, about 50% from Democrats, 23% from Republicans, and about 25% from voters unaffiliated with any party. Check AP’s early voting tracker for the latest update.

How long does it usually take to count votes?

In the 2023 referendum election, the AP first reported the results of Question 3, which received the most votes, at 8:15 p.m. ET, or 15 minutes after polls closed. The tabulation of votes ended overnight at 3:21 a.m. ET with about 91% of the total votes counted.

Are we there yet?

As of November 4, there will be 364 days until the 2026 midterm elections and 1,099 days until the 2028 general election.

Find out more 2025 voting coverage