Can Felons Vote in Maine?
Yes, you can vote in Maine with a felony conviction — even while you are incarcerated. Maine never takes away your right to vote. You can register to vote and cast an absentee ballot from prison or jail. Register at your municipality of prior residence or online at maine.gov/vote.
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Overview
Maine is one of only three U.S. jurisdictions (along with Vermont and Washington, D.C.) where people with felony convictions never lose the right to vote, even while incarcerated. This has been Maine's policy throughout its entire history as a state since 1820. Incarcerated individuals vote by absentee ballot in the municipality where they established residency prior to incarceration. There is no restoration process because the right is never taken away.
Quick Answer
Yes, you can vote in Maine with a felony conviction — even while you are incarcerated. Maine never takes away your right to vote. You can register to vote and cast an absentee ballot from prison or jail. Register at your municipality of prior residence or online at maine.gov/vote.
Can vote
- ✓Currently incarcerated in a Maine state prison for a felony conviction
- ✓Currently incarcerated in a county jail for any reason
- ✓On probation for a felony conviction
- ✓On parole or supervised release
- ✓Released from prison after serving a felony sentence
- ✓Awaiting trial in jail (pretrial detention)
- ✓Serving a misdemeanor sentence
- ✓Convicted of any crime, including murder or Class A felonies
- ✓Conviction has been expunged or pardoned
Cannot vote
- ✗Not a U.S. citizen
- ✗Not a resident of Maine (must have established residency in a Maine municipality before incarceration)
- ✗Under 18 years of age on Election Day
- ✗Found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (unrelated to felony status)
Step-by-Step Process
Confirm your residency
If you are incarcerated, you vote in the municipality where you lived before incarceration — not the municipality where the prison or jail is located. If you are in the community (released, on probation, etc.), you vote where you currently live. Maine Title 21-A, Section 112 governs voting residency.
Register to vote
If you are not already registered, you can register to vote online at maine.gov/vote (if you have a Maine driver's license or ID), by mail using a voter registration form, or in person at your municipal clerk's office. If incarcerated, request a voter registration form from facility staff or contact your municipality's clerk. Forms must be notarized if submitted from a correctional facility.
Request an absentee ballot (if incarcerated)
If you are incarcerated, the only way to vote is by absentee ballot. Request an absentee ballot application from facility administrators or your municipal clerk. You can also have a family member or friend request one on your behalf. Submit the application to your municipality's clerk.
Meet the registration and ballot deadlines
You must register to vote by the 21st day before Election Day for online registration (5 PM deadline) or by the close of business on the last business day before Election Day for in-person registration. Maine allows same-day voter registration at the polls. Absentee ballots must be received by your municipality by the close of polls on Election Day.
Complete and return your ballot
If incarcerated, fill out your absentee ballot and return it by mail through the facility's mail system. Allow extra time for prison mail delays. If you are in the community, you can vote in person at your polling place, return your absentee ballot by mail, or drop it off at your municipal clerk's office.
Verify your registration and stay informed
You can check your voter registration status through the Maine Secretary of State's website. If you move to a new municipality, re-register with your new address. The Secretary of State's office and the NAACP periodically hold voter registration events at state correctional facilities before major elections.
Key Laws
| Law | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Constitution, Article II, Section 1 | 1820 | Establishes the qualifications of electors in Maine. Unlike most state constitutions, Maine's has never included a provision stripping voting rights from people convicted of felonies. The right to vote extends to every citizen of the United States who has established residency in Maine, is at least 18, and is registered. |
| Maine Title 21-A, Section 112 — Residence for Voting Purposes | Codified | Defines voting residency. A person incarcerated in a correctional facility or county jail votes in the municipality where they established residency prior to incarceration, not the municipality where the facility is located. This ensures incarcerated voters do not shift political representation to prison towns. |
| Maine Title 21-A, Section 753-B — Absentee Ballot Procedures | Codified | Establishes procedures for issuing and returning absentee ballots. Incarcerated persons in Maine vote exclusively by absentee ballot. The statute allows any voter to request an absentee ballot and return it by mail. |
| LD 300 (123rd Legislature) — Proposed Constitutional Amendment | 2007 (not enacted) | A 2007 resolution proposing to amend the Maine Constitution to restrict the voting privileges of certain incarcerated felons. The proposal did not pass the legislature. Similar proposals (such as LD 573 in the 126th Legislature, which would have restricted voting for people convicted of murder or Class A crimes) have also failed. |
| NAACP / Secretary of State Voter Registration Program in Prisons | 2006–present | Since 2006, the Maine Department of the Secretary of State has partnered with the NAACP to conduct voter registration and absentee ballot application events at state correctional facilities, typically before presidential and gubernatorial elections. |
Edge Cases
Can I vote from a Maine state prison while serving a life sentence for murder?
Yes. Maine does not restrict voting rights based on the nature or severity of the conviction. Even people serving life sentences for murder retain the right to vote. You can register and cast an absentee ballot from prison.
I was convicted of a federal felony and am serving time in a federal prison in Maine. Can I vote?
Yes, if you are a Maine resident. Maine law does not distinguish between state and federal convictions. However, the federal Bureau of Prisons facility must allow you to send and receive mail for absentee ballot purposes. Contact your municipal clerk in the Maine municipality where you last lived.
I am incarcerated in Maine but I am from another state. Can I vote in Maine?
No. You cannot vote in Maine elections if you are not a Maine resident. Under Maine law, incarceration in a Maine facility does not establish Maine residency. However, you may be able to vote in your home state by absentee ballot — check your home state's laws.
Can I vote if I am in a county jail awaiting trial?
Yes. People in county jail awaiting trial (pretrial detention) can vote in Maine. You have not been convicted of anything and your voting rights are fully intact. Request an absentee ballot through the jail administration or contact your municipal clerk.
What if the prison mail system delays my absentee ballot?
This is a known challenge. Mail in and out of Maine correctional facilities can take weeks. Request your absentee ballot as early as possible — ideally as soon as absentee ballots become available (30 days before the election). The Secretary of State has acknowledged prison mail delays as a barrier to incarcerated voting.
Can I register to vote on Election Day from prison?
While Maine allows same-day voter registration at polling places, incarcerated persons cannot physically go to a polling place. You must register in advance and vote by absentee ballot. Plan ahead to ensure your registration and ballot are processed in time given mail delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I vote in Maine if I have a felony conviction?
- Yes. Maine never takes away your right to vote, regardless of your conviction. You can vote while incarcerated, on probation, on parole, or after completing your sentence. Maine is one of only three U.S. jurisdictions with this policy.
- How do I register to vote from prison in Maine?
- Request a voter registration form from facility staff or contact your municipal clerk (in the town where you lived before incarceration). Complete the form and have it notarized. You can also register online at maine.gov/vote if you have a Maine driver's license or ID. After registering, request an absentee ballot.
- Do I need to re-register to vote after being released from prison?
- If you were already registered before incarceration and have not moved, you should still be registered. However, it is a good idea to verify your registration status with your municipal clerk or through the Secretary of State's website, especially if you have been incarcerated for a long time. If you move to a new municipality, you will need to re-register with your new address.
- Can I vote in person in Maine with a felony record?
- Yes, if you are not currently incarcerated. People with felony convictions who are in the community — whether on probation, parole, or fully discharged — can vote in person at their assigned polling place on Election Day, just like any other voter.
- Why does Maine allow incarcerated people to vote?
- Maine has never included felony disenfranchisement in its constitution. When Maine became a state in 1820, delegates debated but ultimately rejected proposals to strip voting rights from people convicted of crimes. The principle that civic participation aids rehabilitation and reintegration has remained part of Maine's tradition.
- Has Maine ever tried to take away voting rights for felons?
- There have been several legislative attempts to amend the Maine Constitution to restrict voting for incarcerated felons, including LD 300 in 2007 and LD 573 in 2013. None of these proposals have passed the legislature. Maine has maintained its policy of universal suffrage for incarcerated citizens throughout its history.
- Do I need to pay fines or restitution before I can vote in Maine?
- No. There are no financial conditions on voting in Maine. You can vote regardless of any outstanding fines, fees, or restitution. Your right to vote is never contingent on payment of any financial obligation.
- What municipality do I vote in while incarcerated?
- You vote in the municipality where you lived before you were incarcerated, not the municipality where the prison or jail is located. This is governed by Maine Title 21-A, Section 112. If you did not have a fixed residence before incarceration, you may register in any municipality where you previously established a home.
- Can I run for office in Maine with a felony conviction?
- Generally yes. Since Maine does not strip voting rights for felony convictions, people with felony records are eligible to run for most public offices. However, specific offices may have additional eligibility requirements, and you must be a registered voter to run.
- How do voter registration drives work in Maine prisons?
- The Maine Secretary of State's office has partnered with the NAACP since 2006 to conduct voter registration and absentee ballot application events at state correctional facilities. These events typically occur before presidential and gubernatorial elections. Facility staff may also assist with distributing registration forms.
Take Action — Direct Links
- Maine Secretary of State — Elections & Voting
Official state elections page with voter registration information, election dates, absentee ballot procedures, and contact information for municipal clerks.
- Register to Vote Online in Maine
Maine's official online voter registration portal. Requires a Maine driver's license or state ID number.
- Maine Secretary of State — Registering to Vote
Detailed instructions on how to register to vote in Maine, including options for mail, in-person, and online registration, plus deadlines.
- Campaign Legal Center — Restore Your Vote (Maine)
Interactive tool that walks you through your state's specific voting rules and helps determine eligibility. For Maine, it confirms that voting rights are never lost.
- The Sentencing Project — Voting From Prison: Lessons From Maine and Vermont
Research report examining how Maine and Vermont implement voting for incarcerated people, including barriers and recommendations.
- ACLU of Maine — Voting Rights
Information about voting rights in Maine, including resources for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.
- Maine Voter Information Lookup
Look up your voter registration status and find your polling place and municipal clerk contact information.
Video Guides
Sources
- Maine Secretary of State — Elections & Voting
- Maine Constitution, Article II, Section 1
- Maine Title 21-A, Section 112 — Residence for Voting Purposes
- The Sentencing Project — Voting From Prison: Lessons From Maine and Vermont
- The Marshall Project — All the Prisoners in Maine and Vermont Can Vote. Here's Why Few Do.
- Maine Morning Star — Incarcerated Mainers' Voting Access (2025)
- Ballotpedia — Voting in Maine
- NCSL — Felon Voting Rights by State