Which party controls the state government?
Democratic trifecta
Maine
Maine's Supreme Court blocked ranked-choice voting for governor, Medicaid faces federal cuts, and Maine elects a new governor on November 3, 2026.
Updated October 6, 2026. Every figure is sourced and dated.
- 5
- Maine guides
- 56
- rules tracked
What November 3 Decided
Results as certified by the Secretary of State. Nothing here is a projection; each office reads "Not yet certified" until the state certifies it.
- U.S. Senate Not yet certified Susan Collins (R), Troy Jackson (D)
- Governor Not yet certified Hannah Pingree (D), Bobby Charles (R), Richard Bennett (I)
Who Runs Maine
The Legislature meets next on December 2, 2026.
- Governor Janet Mills Not running in 2026; the seat is open
- Attorney General Aaron Frey Chosen by the Legislature; not on the ballot
- Secretary of State Shenna Bellows Chosen by the Legislature; lost the June 9, 2026 primary for governor
- President of the Maine Senate Matthea Daughtry On the ballot for her Senate seat
- Speaker of the Maine House Ryan Fecteau On the ballot for his House seat
Who Votes in Maine
An estimated 67.1% of Maine's adult citizens voted in November 2024, plus or minus 3.5 points, against 65.3% nationwide.
- 1.4 million Residents, July 1, 2024
- 1.1 million Adults 18 and over (estimated)
- 1.1 million Adult citizens (estimated)
- 831,000 Registered to vote (estimated)
- 753,000 Voted (estimated)
- 831,375 Ballots counted for president
Maine
United States
- Voted
- Registered, did not vote
- Not registered
Shares of adult citizens. Registered but did not vote: Maine 6.9%, United States 8.3%. Registered and voted are estimates from the Census Current Population Survey, November 2024 (Table 4a); the margin of error for Maine's turnout is plus or minus 3.5 points and for its registration 4 points. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates. Presidential count: Federal Election Commission, from each state's certified canvass.
Kamala Harris carried Maine by 6.9 points in the certified count, 435,652 votes to 377,977.
Your Maine Rules
The answers people look up first, chosen by search demand from our 50-state datasets. Each is dated and links to the source and to every state's answer.
- Can a person with a felony conviction vote in Maine? Never lose the vote, even in prison People in prison can register and vote absentee in the town where they lived before (21-A §112).
- Does Maine require background checks on private gun sales? For some sales only All guns sold at a gun show or through an advertisement, checked at the point of sale.
- Do you need an ID to vote in person in Maine? No ID document for most voters Without ID: No ID document at the polls for most voters. Your identity is checked against your registration, usually by signature. A first-time voter who registered by mail may be asked for ID or a document with name and address under federal law.
- How high is the property tax on a home in Maine? 0.98% of home value, 19th highest of 50 Above the middle (11th to 25th)
- How far into pregnancy is abortion legal? Fetal viability Legal until about viability
- What is Maine's minimum wage? $15.10 an hour $15.00 or more
How Maine Ranks
Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 an hour, the 11th highest of the 50 states, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $15.55 |
| Colorado | $15.16 |
| Arizona | $15.15 |
| Maine | $15.1 |
| Delaware | $15 |
| Florida | $15 |
| Illinois | $15 |
Maine and the states ranked nearest it. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026). Rates as of October 14, 2026.
Every Maine Guide
5 guides to Maine law and politics, each sourced and dated.
Elections and Who Holds Power
Your Money, Work and Home
Health and Safety
Guns, Drugs and Criminal Justice
Maine Rules at a Glance
56 answers from our 50-state datasets. Each card shows when it was last verified and links to the source and to the Maine guide or every state's answer.
Rule of Law (2)
Is marijuana legal in the state?
Legal for adults, up to 2.5 ounces
Legal for adults 21 and older
Voting (19)
When is the last day to register for November 3, 2026?
Register through Election Day; in person by Monday, November 2 to skip same-day rules
Can register on Election Day
Who can vote by mail?
Any voter can ask for a ballot
Are guns banned at polling places?
No clear statewide ban
Do you have to prove citizenship to register?
No document required; you attest
Is ranked choice voting used or banned?
Used statewide for some elections
Who draws the congressional map?
Legislature, with an advisory commission
Did the state draw a new congressional map for 2026?
No new map for 2026
Was the state covered by Voting Rights Act preclearance before 2013?
Not covered
Did the 2024 presidential campaigns treat the state as a battleground?
Not a battleground
Has the state joined the National Popular Vote Compact?
Joined
How many electoral votes does the state have?
4 electoral votes
3 to 9 electoral votes
Did the state gain or lose House seats after the 2020 census?
No change
Can voters recall state officials?
No recall of state officials
Where is the state's guide to running for office?
Ballotpedia, How to run for office in Maine
Guide available
When did the state ratify the 19th Amendment?
Ratified November 5, 1919
Before Tennessee, 1919-1920
Who can vote in a party primary?
Open to unaffiliated
Open to unaffiliated voters
Can a person with a felony conviction vote in the state?
Never lose the vote, even in prison
Do you need an ID to vote in person in the state?
No ID document for most voters
How many people in the state are eligible, registered and voted?
An estimated 67.1% of adult citizens voted in 2024 (plus or minus 3.5 points)
An estimated 60% to 69.9% voted
Immigration (1)
Is the state on the Justice Department’s sanctuary list?
Nothing in the state is listed
LGBTQ Rights (4)
Is gender-affirming care for minors banned or protected?
Shield law protects access
Is conversion therapy banned for minors?
Full ban for minors
Must schools tell parents about a student’s gender identity?
No forced-outing law
Does the state constitution still ban same-sex marriage?
Never had a constitutional ban
Education (1)
Has the state restricted DEI at public colleges?
No statewide restriction
Healthcare (1)
Has the state expanded Medicaid?
Expanded by ballot measure
Economy (8)
What is the state's minimum wage?
$15.10 an hour
$15.00 or more
Can cities set a higher minimum wage?
No state ban
Can cities require paid sick leave?
Blocked, with a statewide paid leave law
Is the state a right-to-work state?
No right-to-work law
What would the projected Social Security cut cost a retiree in the state?
About $438 a month
Projected cut at depletion
How much of the state's budget comes from federal money?
36.9% federal money
30% to 40% federal
Does the state tax income, and at what rate?
5.8% to 7.15%; the top rate starts at $64,849 (single filer)
Graduated rates
How high is the property tax on a home in the state?
0.98% of home value, 19th highest of 50
Above the middle (11th to 25th)
Ethics (1)
How much does the state require lobbyists to disclose?
Meaningful spending disclosure
Reproductive Rights (1)
How far into pregnancy is abortion legal?
Fetal viability
Legal until about viability
Civil Rights (7)
Does the state have the death penalty?
Abolished in 1887
Abolished
How does the state's civil forfeiture law grade?
Grade A
A range
Has the state passed anti-protest laws since 2017?
No bills filed
Does the state constitution name a right to privacy?
No explicit clause
Does the state have a consumer data privacy law?
No comprehensive law
How much support does Christian nationalism have in the state?
28% support
Under 30%
Did the state ratify the Equal Rights Amendment?
Ratified by the deadline
Housing (5)
Can a landlord refuse a housing voucher?
Weakened by a court ruling
Does the state ban sleeping outside in public places?
No statewide law identified
How much notice must a landlord give for unpaid rent?
7 days
5 to 7 days
Does the state give homeowners a homestead exemption?
Yes, a statewide program
Yes, a statewide program for most homeowners
Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise?
No cap in the Lincoln Institute table
Gun Safety (6)
Does the state have a red flag law?
Has a red flag law
Can cities pass their own gun laws?
Broad state preemption
Can you openly carry a handgun in the state?
Yes, no permit needed
Do you need a permit to carry a concealed handgun?
No permit needed (permitless carry)
Does the state require background checks on private gun sales?
For some sales only
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun?
Yes, for all guns
Democrats control the governor’s office and both chambers of the Legislature. Governor Janet Mills is term-limited. On November 3, the candidates for governor are Hannah Pingree (D); Bobby Charles (R); Richard Bennett (I).
Mills signed a $519 million supplemental budget that made free community college permanent and sent $300 checks to 514,000 residents. Our guides cover the governor race, the U.S. Senate race, the minimum wage, abortion laws and marijuana laws.
Maine’s Open Governor Race
Mills cannot run again. The June 9 primaries used ranked-choice voting, and Hannah Pingree won the Democratic nomination and Bobby Charles the Republican nomination. Independent Richard Bennett, a state senator, is also on the ballot. Our Maine governor race guide has the results round by round. The governor’s race in November does not use ranked-choice voting: the Maine Supreme Court ruled in April 2026 that expanding it to the governor’s race was unconstitutional. The U.S. Senate and House races on the same ballot do use it (21-A M.R.S. sec. 1(27-C)); see the Maine Senate race guide.
The next governor takes office January 6, 2027, with the millionaire surtax and free community college in place. Ask the candidates which policies they would keep and which they would change.
The $519 Million Supplemental Budget
Mills signed the supplemental budget on April 10, 2026. It adds to an $11.65 billion two-year spending plan.
514,000 Mainers receiving $300 affordability checks for gas and grocery costs
Eligibility for the checks: individuals under $50,000, heads of household under $75,000, married couples under $100,000. The budget also made permanent the free community college program that has enrolled more than 23,000 high school graduates since 2022.
The money comes partly from a new 2% surcharge on roughly 2,400 households earning over $1 million. That creates a 9.15% top tax rate and is projected to generate $150 million over two years.
Asylum Seekers, Healthcare and Portland’s Costs
LD 199 would remove MaineCare exclusions for immigrants and asylum seekers. Right now, only those under 21 or in a medical emergency can access coverage. Dozens of affected people testified before the Health and Human Services Committee.
Portland approved a $285.6 million general fund budget with a 7.4% tax increase and $8.8 million pulled from its rainy day fund. General Assistance costs for asylum seekers are a major driver.
Mills allowed a bill limiting police cooperation with ICE to become law without signing it.
The Lobster Catch Fell 29% From 2021 to 2025
Maine’s lobster landings fell to 78.8 million pounds in 2025 (preliminary), from 110.7 million pounds in 2021, the fourth straight yearly decline, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
2021 catch 110.7 million pounds
2025 catch 78.8 million pounds (preliminary)
Data center ban Mills vetoed a first-in-the-nation moratorium
Wabanaki sovereignty Mills vetoed; override failed.
Environmental groups released “Meeting the Moment,” a policy roadmap covering clean energy, Wabanaki sovereignty, and land protection.
Mills vetoed both the data center moratorium and the Wabanaki sovereignty bill.
Paul LePage’s Run for Congress
Former two-term Governor LePage is the Republican nominee for Congress in Maine’s 2nd District. He faces Democrat Matthew Dunlap on November 3, and no incumbent is running (Ballotpedia).
Vice President JD Vance campaigned with LePage in Bangor in May 2026.
LePage repeatedly vetoed Medicaid expansion as governor. Mills implemented it after taking office. The U.S. House race in Maine uses ranked-choice voting (21-A M.R.S. sec. 1(27-C)).
What You Can Do in Maine
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Check your voter registration before November 3. On the ballot for governor: Hannah Pingree (D); Bobby Charles (R); Richard Bennett (I). Verify your status at maine.gov/sos/cec/elec.
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Know which races use ranked-choice voting. On November 3, you rank candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House but mark one choice for governor. If no one wins a majority of first choices, the last-place candidate is eliminated and those ballots move to voters’ next choices. Our ranked-choice voting guide explains the count.
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Check your eligibility for the $300 affordability check. If you earn under $50,000 as an individual, under $75,000 as head of household, or under $100,000 filing jointly, you qualify.
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Call the governor’s office at 207-287-3531. Ask about Wabanaki sovereignty, MaineCare expansion for asylum seekers, or data center policy. Mills is still in office through January 2027.
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Ask the candidates where they stand. On the ballot for governor: Hannah Pingree (D); Bobby Charles (R); Richard Bennett (I). Ask them about free community college, the millionaire surtax, and MaineCare.
Contact Your Officials
Call your two U.S. senators, the governor's office, or look up your own state legislators.
Governor Janet Mills (D) 207-287-3531
Your State Legislators
Every address in Maine sits in one district for each chamber of the Legislature, and each district elects its own member. Search your town in the Legislature's own list to see your House and Senate districts and who represents them.
Chamber leaders
- Matthea Daughtry, President of the Maine Senate
- Ryan Fecteau, Speaker of the Maine House
Events
Show Up Locally
RESIST Central Maine L/A (An Indivisible Group)
Rally · Indivisible
72 Lisbon St, Lewiston, ME, 04240
CALL TO ACTION Rally every Tuesday, starting Feb. 25, 2025 72 Dufresne Plaza12-1pm Lisbon St. Lewiston, ME join RESIST Central Maine (Indivisible) In urgent need of support! Bring signs! Parking.
Weekly Peaceful Solidarity Rally
Lake Region Indivisible
295 Main St, Bridgton, ME, 04009
Join Lake Region Indivisible every Wednesday from 10- 11 a.m. in front of Food City in Bridgton, Maine, for our weekly peaceful solidarity rally! Bring signs and stand with us against the cruelty of.
Cosplay Protest: Stop Fascism Now!
Rally · Indivisible
Federal Street Historic District, Brunswick, ME, 04011
This a recurring Indivisible event in Brunswick, Maine. Rally every Wednesday at lunchtime on Maine Street! Meet at the gazebo on the mall. The theme is to stop Fascism in America and restore.
Stop the Coup
Rally · Indivisible
138 Main St, Saco, ME, 04072
Biddeford Saco for Racial Justice will sponsor weekly Saturday morning rallies through the winter at the Saco Transportation Center from 10-11am. Given winter weather, we cannot guarantee who will be.
Every-Saturday 11am Monument Square Rally
Indivisible
456 Congress St, Portland, ME, 04101
Please join Angus Ferguson and Indivisible Greater Portland to speak out against the corrupt Trump Administration every Saturday in Monument Square! There will be an open microphone for you to voice.
Rally for Democracy
Indivisible
636 Broadway, South Portland, ME, 04106
IndivisibleSouthPortland Rallies every Saturday 11-12 at Erskine Park (On Broadway next to DunkinDonuts) We have been there every Saturday since April 2025 and we will be there until this insanity.
RESIST Central Maine-Stop Fascism Now Rally
Indivisible
Court St, Auburn, ME, 04210
Join us on the Longley Bridge, Auburn, ME on Saturdays from 12-1pm every Saturday starting May 10, 2025 to join a weekly protest until the insanity in Washington stops and our democracy is restored.
Singing Resistance with The Audacity in Rockland, Maine
Rally · Indivisible
294 Main St, Rockland, ME, 04841
Join the weekly Singing Resistance demonstration held by Knox County, Maine's locally-organized creative protest group called The Audacity. All those in opposition to the authoritarianism, bigotry.
Voter Tools
Voter Registration and Resources
Find Federal Representatives Use Congress.gov to confirm your House member and senators. Check Voting Rules Verify state registration rules and deadlines before the next election.
Don't see a letter on your issue? Text RESIST to 50409 to write your own to any official.