Absentee voting in Maine is getting underway, with the state’s 4 Electoral School votes up for grabs and quite a lot of different nationwide, statewide and native races on the poll.
Maine is one among two states within the U.S. — the opposite is Nebraska — that doesn’t use a winner-take-all system for all its electors. Within the presidential race, two electors are given to the winner of the statewide widespread vote, whereas one elector is awarded to Maine’s District 1 and District 2, respectively.
A “vote here” signal on the entrance of the Waterville Junior Excessive Faculty polling station throughout the election in Waterville, Maine, Nov. 3, 2020. (Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz)
Maine is generally Democratic, however its huge 2nd District is important for a Trump victory
Maine is one among a number of Democratic-leaning northeastern states. President Biden received right here by about 9 factors in 2020, bettering on Hillary Clinton’s margin 4 years earlier. And it hasn’t voted for a Republican on the statewide degree since 1988. It’s ranked Doubtless D on the Fox Information Energy Rankings.
Like Nebraska, it additionally allocates its electoral votes by congressional district. The winner of the statewide tally receives two votes, with one other vote for the winner of the presidential tally in every of its two districts.
The small coastal 1st District is strong blue territory. The 2nd District, which is predominantly rural and represents virtually all of the land space of the state, leans conservative.
Trump received the 2nd District by 7.4 factors in his final race, and it’s ranked Doubtless R this cycle. The previous president will search for a win right here to get one step nearer to the 270 electoral votes he must win the presidency.
Key downballot races in in the present day’s early voting states
The identical district can also be residence to a aggressive Home race.
Maine’s 2nd District: Incumbent Rep. Jared Golden is one among 5 Democrats working in districts Trump received within the final presidential election (Golden received by 6 factors). The previous Marine made headlines this 12 months when he stated he “didn’t know” whether or not he would vote for Biden once more and was one of many first Democrats to query Biden’s psychological health. This time, he’s up towards Maine State Consultant and former NASCAR driver Austin Theriault, who says he desires “more balance and less extremism” in politics. This race is a Energy Rankings toss-up.
How you can vote in Maine
This can be a information to registration and early voting. For complete and up-to-date data on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election web site for Maine.
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Voting by mail
Absentee ballots are starting to be despatched to voters after clerks had been required to have acquired printed ballots to be despatched out by Saturday. Candidates don’t want to offer an excuse to obtain a poll. The state should obtain a poll software by Oct. 31, and that poll should be delivered to county officers by Nov. 5.
A voter arrives at a polling location to vote in Portland, Maine, Nov. 3, 2009. (Reuters/Joel Web page)
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Early in-person voting
Maine counties supply early in-person voting, however the begin date varies by location. Verify the state’s web site for extra data. Residents might vote in particular person with an absentee poll till the Thursday earlier than Election Day.
A field for ballots in a polling space forward of Election Day at Waterville Junior Excessive Faculty in Waterville, Maine, Nov. 2, 2020. (Reuters/Elizabeth Frantz)
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Voter registration
Maine residents can register to vote on-line or by mail by way of Oct. 15. They will additionally register in particular person throughout early voting and on Election Day.
