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Upcoming Elections

February 14, 2012 - State Senate District 20 Special Election

The December 31, 2011 resignation of A. David Trahan of Waldoboro created a vacancy in District 20 of the Maine State Senate. On January 4, 2012, the Governor issued a Proclamation declaring the vacancy and setting February 14, 2012 as the date for the Special Election. The deadline for candidate nominations was January 17, 2012.  Write-in candidates must file a the Declaration of Write-in Candidacy by January 24, 2012.

List of Candidates filing to fill the vacancy

Please select the format of your choice:

PDF | Excel

Please visit the Statewide Absentee Voter Data File for a list of all absentee ballot requests in the State.

June 12, 2012 - Primary Election

Primary Elections determine each party’s nomination of candidates for US Senate and Representative to Congress, and qualified State and County offices. (The Office of President is not included in Primary Elections in Maine; each party’s nomination of a presidential candidate is done at party conventions held during the Presidential Election year.)  Party candidates who are elected at the Primary qualify to appear on the General Election ballot the following November. In Maine, the Primary Election is held on the second Tuesday in June of each even-numbered year. 

Maine currently has three qualified parties: Democratic, Green Independent, and Republican. (Note: although some unenrolled candidates choose to designate themselves as “Independent,” there is no “Independent” party in Maine now). 

In order to qualify for the Primary Election ballot, party candidates must submit nomination petitions to the Secretary of State’s Office by March 15th.

List of Candidates filing for Primary Ballot - (as of 4:00 February 22, 2012)

Offices included in the 2012 Primary Election are United States Senator, Representative to Congress (both districts), all 35 State Senate districts, all 151 State Representative districts, and the following county offices, which vary depending on the county: Judge of Probate, Register of Probate, County Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Sheriff, District Attorney and County Commissioner. 

November 6, 2012 - General and Presidential Election

The General Election is held nationally on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.  In 2012, Maine voters will select their choice for President/Vice President (this process is called the “popular vote”), and elect one of Maine’s two United States Senators, Maine’s Representatives to Congress, members of the Maine Legislature, and certain county officers. 

Each party’s nomination for President/Vice President of the United States, party candidates who are nominated as a result of the June Primary Election, and unenrolled candidates will appear on the General Election ballot. 

The actual election of President/Vice President occurs through the Electoral College.  The “popular vote” is used to choose Maine’s 4 “electors”, who convene at what is called the “Electoral College” at the State House in December to cast their “electoral votes.”