AUGUSTA, Maine — In-person absentee voting has begun ahead of Maine’s June 11 primaries that will determine November matchups in races for Congress, the Legislature and county offices across the state.
The highest-profile race will be on the Republican side for the right to face U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine’s swing 2nd District. Freshman state Reps. Austin Theriault of Fort Kent and Mike Soboleski of Phillips are the candidates in that primary.
Starting this week, Mainers can vote by absentee ballot in person at municipal offices until June 6, the Thursday before Election Day. You can request an absentee ballot by mail using an online tool from the secretary of state’s office or by contacting your local clerk.
What’s on the ballot?
While the 2nd District primary will attract the most attention, there are other important primaries as well as local elections on the Maine ballot.
Two Republican newcomers — Andrew Piantidosi of Cape Elizabeth and Ronald C. Russell of Kennebunkport — are vying for the chance to run an uphill race against U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, an eight-term Democrat from Maine’s reliably liberal 1st District.
Nominees for each of the 186 seats in the Maine Legislature will also be determined, although the slate will not be fully set because parties often replace many of their candidates after the primaries. There are only five contested Senate primaries and 10 in the House. All of the other party candidates are running unopposed in their nominating races.
You can see what’s on your ballot by entering your address at the secretary of state’s website. Find out about any local races by checking your town’s website or contacting your clerk.
What rules need to be kept in mind?
These are the first state primaries to be run under Maine’s new law allowing for “semi-open” nominating races. It means that unenrolled voters can choose whether to vote in one party’s primary without enrolling in the party.
If you are a Republican who wants to become a Democrat ahead of the primaries or vice versa, you must switch your registration ahead of Election Day. The statutory deadline to do that is May 27, but it falls on Memorial Day this year. Do it before the last week of May to ensure that your municipal office is open.
Ranked-choice voting will only be used in two elections in which three candidates are running. They are Democratic nominating races for Maine House of Representatives seats in part of Cape Elizabeth and part of South Portland. If no candidate wins an outright majority, those tabulations will be run in Augusta after the election.
