Defending Our Vote

Defending Our Vote & Safeguarding Maine Elections

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Last updated on September 03, 2026

Voting is the best way to exercise your political power – no matter which candidates, causes, or parties you support. Your vote is your voice and your power, and the world needs to hear it!

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Now is the time to make a voting plan, and to talk to friends and family about their plans too. In the face of the federal government's attacks on voting rights, we have plans to keep power where it belongs — in the hands of the voters.

Capitol with overlayed image of person casting a ballot.

Building Power to Safeguard Elections

Along with the League of Women Voters of Maine, we're taking action to ensure every eligible voter can vote, that ballots are fairly counted, that elections are properly certified, and that the will of voters is respected.

This year, we’re proud to launch a new partnership with the League of Women Voters of Maine to ensure our elections remain free, safe, and secure. The federal government is trying to interfere with our right to vote, but we’re pushing back at every turn. You can count on us as a unified voice for unbiased information and important updates. We're here to help you vote and empower your communities to do the same – not to influence how you vote.

Here's what you can look forward to as we approach the election:

  • We'll be hosting Know Your Rights trainings and distributing materials across the state to ensure voters feel empowered to vote and know what to do if they encounter any issues.
  • We're supporting the League's robust volunteer observer program. These non-partisan observers are present at polling places to report on voting conditions around the state. They do not advocate for any candidates or parties, and observe only to ensure all eligible voters can cast a ballot.
  • We're closely monitoring developments at the local, state, and federal levels as the Trump administration continues attacking voting access. We are at the ready to share important updates, support officials like Maine's attorney general, secretary of state, and town clerks, and take action to defend your right to vote.
  • We're part of a nationwide network defending the vote as a unified front. The ACLU is present in all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico. This year, the national ACLU has committed more resources than ever before to protect our right to vote and empower voters across the country to participate fully in our democracy.

Sign up for email updates and check this page for the latest information.

Protesters with signs at march on Washington, D.C. for Jobs and Freedom, carrying signs that read "WE DEMAND VOTING RIGHTS NOW!" and WE DEMAND AN END O POLICE BRUTALITY NOW!" on August 28, 1963.

Continuing the Fight for Voting Rights

Since the ACLU’s founding, protecting voting rights and free elections has been foundational to our mission. Our commitment to a representative, multicultural democracy animates our vision for voting rights work today just as it did during the Civil Rights Movement.

Our teams here in Maine and throughout the nation are working hard to stop the federal government’s unconstitutional attempts to undermine elections – like our effort to protect sensitive voter data in Maine, the Massachusetts challenge to unlawful vote-by-mail restrictions, and voter data protection cases in 22 other states. We’re doing all of this in coordination and partnership with attorneys general, secretaries of state, and other advocates.

Maine Elections are Free, Safe, & Secure

Here in Maine, we have a tradition of strong voting rights laws that have led to incredibly high levels of participation – but we need to keep it that way. Our state's elections are free, safe, and secure. They are run by committed civil servants, like town clerks, who work hard every day to deliver ballots, secure voting equipment, count every vote, and keep our democracy running.

Make a Plan to Vote

There are several ways to vote in Maine:

  • By mail with an absentee ballot
  • Early in person at your town office/city hall
  • By returning your absentee ballot to a secure ballot dropbox
  • In person on Election Day

Voting early is a great way to vote on your own time and avoid the rush of Election Day. You can vote from the comfort of your own home and take all the time you need to research candidates and vote your values. You can also track your ballot to make sure it was received and counted.

Click below to learn more, see important deadlines, and make a plan to vote.

Know Your Rights & Other Resources

Learn more here about what your rights are, how to exercise them, and what to do when your rights are violated.