Absentee Voting Kicks Off in Maine
Absentee voting has begun in Maine, with the state’s four Electoral College votes up for grabs and several national, statewide, and local races on the ballot. Maine is one of two states that does not use a winner-take-all system for all its electors. In the presidential race, two electors are given to the winner of the statewide popular vote, while one elector is awarded to Maine’s District 1 and District 2, respectively.
Maine is predominantly Democratic, but its vast 2nd District is critical for a Trump victory. The 2nd District, which is predominantly rural and represents almost all the land area of the state, leans conservative. Trump won the 2nd District by 7.4 points in his last race, and it is ranked Likely R this cycle.
The same district is also home to a competitive House race. Incumbent Rep. Jared Golden is one of five Democrats running in districts Trump won in the last presidential election. He is up against Maine State Representative and former NASCAR driver Austin Theriault, who says he wants “more balance and less extremism” in politics. This race is a Power Rankings toss-up.
For comprehensive information on voter eligibility, processes, and deadlines, please visit Vote.gov and the election website for Maine.
