If postal issues and fears of election interference are worrisome ahead of the November midterms, here's what you can do to ensure your vote is counted. 

Absentee voting and in-person early voting started October 5 and runs through October 29.  You can request that your absentee ballot be mailed to you by clicking here.

Maine gives voters several options: Absentee voting, early in-person voting at the municipal clerk's office, and voting at the polls on Election Day.

For someone who cannot easily get to a polling place but can get to a town office, early voting may be a useful middle ground. 

Take an extra step to protect your absentee ballot

In April 2026, The Bangor Daily News ran a story about chronic and worsening mail-delivery problems in the Midcoast, specifically in Lincolnville, Belfast, and surrounding rural communities. The story reported people going days without mail, checks arriving six to eight weeks late, and local officials receiving frequent complaints. It also reported that mail in Belfast and other Midcoast communities that once received two daily pickups now gets only one, a change that can affect when ballots are processed and postmarked. 

If you're mailing your ballot, it is recommended that you mail it at least one week before Election Day. If you're concerned about USPS delivery, you may want to allow even more time.

However, for an extra level of security, don't just drop your ballot into a USPS mailbox or put it in your own mailbox for pickup.

Ensure your Maine absentee ballot gets to its destination by dropping it in an official absentee ballot drop box. This is the official “Municipal Office Hours and Absentee Drop Box Locations” listing of every Maine municipality and the physical location of its drop box.

Lincolnville Town Administrator David Kinney said: "Communities will have ballots available at least 30 days prior to Election Day.  I would suggest that if a voter is concerned about utilizing the mail to receive or return their absentee ballot, they vote in person at the town office or come into the town office to pick up their ballot and then return it in person to the town office or vote at the polling place on Election Day.  There are other methods, but these three options are the easiest for all involved."

Absentee voting for citizens in licensed facilities

Under Maine statute (see section 5), Maine municipal clerks must conduct absentee voting at certain licensed facilities. For example, in Camden, those are Bella Point, Merry Gardens, Quarry Hill and Windward Gardens. A municipal clerk shall designate one time during the 30-day period prior to an election to be present in each facility for the purpose of conducting absentee voting by residents of these facilities.

If you cannot drive yourself to the polling site

For Midcoast voters who have no reliable transportation, how do you get to the polls on Election Day or to a municipal town office for early voting?

The national organization, Carpool Vote, is specifically designed to match voters who need rides with volunteer drivers to take them to the polls on Election Day or during early voting. The platform has a system for people who don't regularly use the internet, and partner organizations can submit ride requests on behalf of voters. It also serves as a hub for drivers who wish to volunteer to give someone a ride to the polls as well. 

Uber Vote has developed a series of in-app features and promotions to help voters find and get to their polling locations this Election Day.

Uber's national “Go Vote!” program put a Go Vote tile in its app that allowed users to identify their polling place and request a ride there. It offers 50% off one ride, up to $10, subject to availability and other restrictions. Keep in mind, however, that while Uber may be an option for some voters, it is not always reliably offered in rural Maine and shouldn't be treated as a guaranteed Election Day transportation resource.

In St. George, Neighbor To Neighbor is a nonprofit that provides free rides to St. George residents who are unable to drive themselves. 

"Neighbor to Neighbor takes St. George residents where they want to go, and that would include a trip to vote or to drop off a ballot," said Peggy Williamson, Neighbor to Neighbor Board Chair. "Our website, ridesinstgeorge.org, has information for those who want to request a ride as well as for those interested in becoming a volunteer driver with N2N."

Disability Rights Maine, based in Augusta, serves all of Maine. Its website has a section on Voting Rights and how to make it the most accessible to people who require assistance with accessible voting, whether it's help completing your ballot or what to expect on Election Day.

Julia Endicott, Community Engagement Director for DRM, said, "While we don't specifically have transportation set up to bring people to the polls or to their municipal office, if you can't find a ride through your friends, family, or neighbors, get in touch with us, and we'll reach out to our networks to try to help." Their number is 1-800-452-1948.

Track your ballot through Maine's absentee-ballot tracking system

If you want to triple-check your efforts, Maine.gov has a subsection on its website to track your absentee ballot. The online form requires you to fill in your name, date of birth, and residence, and provides confirmation of your ballot status. 

From the Maine Secretary of State

Absentee ballot deadlines:

Requesting an absentee ballot: Absentee ballots, including accessible ballots and ballots for uniformed and overseas voters, may be requested here.

Voters may also contact their town hall to request a ballot or submit a paper application for an absentee ballot, and the request must be received at least three business days before Election Day (October 29), unless special circumstances exist.

Returning an absentee ballot: Only ballots received by 8 p.m. on Election Day are counted, regardless of postmark. In many towns and cities, voters have the option of returning an absentee ballot to a secured drop box. Maine voters can track the process of their ballot here.

Maine Department of the Secretary of StateAbsentee ballot processing:

Absentee ballots may be processed up to seven days before Election Day, with notice provided to the Secretary of State and political parties 30 days before Election Day.

Who is processing early: A list of municipalities which may process ballots early will be available here at least one week prior to the start of early processing.

Who can observe: Absentee ballot processing is a public process which may be observed by partisan and nonpartisan observers.

When early processing happens: Early processing may happen between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., except when an inspection is requested. At such times, processing may not begin until the inspection period has concluded.

 Inspection requests: Requests for inspection of absentee ballot applications and envelopes must be submitted in writing by 4 p.m. the day before each day of early processing. If such a request is made, the ballot applications and envelopes will be available an hour before early processing is set to begin.

What happens during early processing:

During absentee ballot processing, teams of two work in stages. First, the absentee voter list is marked, then the ballots and envelopes separated, and only when a sufficient quantity of ballots has amassed are the ballots unfolded and placed into the tabulator or ballot box.

Ballots and envelopes are kept secure after each day of early processing.

Absentee ballots are not counted until after 8 p.m. on Election Day, just as all other ballots.

Many municipalities will conduct absentee ballot processing on Election Day itself, under the same procedures.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com