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Nearly 35,000 Mainers have already voted in the upcoming primary election with Democrats returning almost three times as many ballots as Republicans so far.
An analysis of state absentee voting data shows that 72% of the returned ballots have been in the Democratic primary election. Democrats have a similar share of total ballots submitted by unenrolled voters, who can vote in one of the two-party primary elections under Maine’s new semi-open primary system.
The data, most recently captured Monday, provides a glimpse at voter enthusiasm among the two parties.
The June 9 primary features a crowded field of candidates running to become Maine’s next governor, including five Democrats and seven Republicans.
Democrats also have primary elections to determine their candidates for the U.S. Senate and the 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House.
The last day to request an absentee ballot is Thursday. Early in-person absentee voting also ends that day.
This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.