Maine’s Tuesday primaries will decide the major-party nominees for governor and whether Democrat Graham Platner moves on to a race with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.
This is everything you need to know to be ready to vote on Election Day, including a note on how unenrolled voters can participate in their first gubernatorial primary.
Election 2026
2026 Maine Election Results: Race Calls and Live Maps
Follow Maine’s June 9, 2026 election with live results after 8 p.m. from the Bangor Daily News and town-by-town interactive maps.
When are polls open?
Polls are generally open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Many open earlier, while smaller towns are allowed to open them as late as 10 a.m. You can look up opening times on the secretary of state’s website. If polls close while you’re still in line, you’re still able to vote.
Where is my polling place?
Polling places are typically in municipal offices, schools or other public buildings. But they can be in other buildings. You can call your municipal office or use the state’s online tool to find your polling place.
I’m an unenrolled voter. Can I vote in the primary?
Yes. This is the first gubernatorial election being run under Maine’s 2023 law switching the state to semi-open primaries. Unenrolled voters can choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican races. Voters who prefer not to can simply vote on any local races.
Can I register to vote at the polls?
Yes. Maine is among the roughly half of states that allow same-day registration. Bring identification and proof of residency to your polling place to register and vote. You do not need identification to vote, only to register.
You can check your voter registration status by entering your name, date of birth and current address on Vote.org, a third-party website.
Is it too late to drop off my absentee ballot?
No. All ballots will be counted as long as they are returned to your city or town clerk by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
If you recently mailed in your ballot, check the state’s lookup tool to ensure your local clerk has received it. If not, you can vote in person and your absentee ballot will be voided.
How do I find out about what’s on the ballot?
Political newcomer Graham Platner, the focus of the election cycle so far, is virtually certain to win the Democratic primary over Gov. Janet Mills, who ended her run but remains on the ballot, and 2024 nominee David Costello. Democrats will be watching Mills’ vote share as a gauge of anxiety about Platner following weeks of disclosures about past behavior.
The tightest race looks to be the Democratic gubernatorial primary, where former public health commissioner Nirav Shah, former House Speaker Hannah Pingree and former Senate President Troy Jackson are tightly bunched heading into Election Day. Ranked-choice voting is likely to determine the final outcome. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former clean energy executive Angus King III are also factors.
On the Republican side, lawyer Bobby Charles holds a clear lead despite widespread skepticism about his general election viability. Opponents Jonathan Bush and Garrett Mason have had millions spent on their behalf, while former fitness executive Ben Midgley could be potent as well.
In Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, state Sen. Joe Baldacci has led polls of a four-way Democratic primary to find a challenger for former Gov. Paul LePage. But State Auditor Matt Dunlap and former political operative Jordan Wood are also in contention.