Upcoming Elections

General and Referendum Election - November 6, 2018

The General Election is held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. In 2018, Maine voters will elect one of Maine's two United States Senators, Maine's Governor, two Representatives to Congress, members of the Maine Legislature, and certain county officers. 

List of General Election Candidates – as of 5:00 PM – 8/16/2018

Declarations of Write-in Candidacy for the November 6, 2018 General Election ballots are now available on the Candidate Procedures, Forms & Reporting page.  The filing deadline is Friday, September 7, 2018.

Referendum Elections are held to provide Maine’s citizens an opportunity to vote on People’s Veto Referenda, Direct Initiatives of Legislation (i.e. Citizen Initiatives), Bond Issues, other referenda proposed by the Legislature, and Constitutional Amendments.  Referendum elections are an important part of the heritage of public participation in Maine.  This November’s Referendum Election will include one Citizen Initiative and four Bond Issues.

Questions Appearing on November 6, 2018 Ballot

Question 1: Citizen Initiative
Do you want to create the Universal Home Care Program to provide home-based assistance to people with disabilities and senior citizens, regardless of income, funded by a new 3.8% tax on individuals and families with Maine wage and adjusted gross income above the amount subject to Social Security taxes, which is $128,400 in 2018?

Question 2:  Bond Issue
Public Law 425
Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to improve water quality, support the planning and construction of wastewater treatment facilities and assist homeowners whose homes are served by substandard or malfunctioning wastewater treatment systems?

Question 3:  Bond Issue
Public Law 467
Do you favor a $106,000,000 bond issue, including $101,000,000 for construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities and equipment related to ports, piers, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails, to be used to match an estimated $137,000,000 in federal and other funds, and $5,000,000 for the upgrade of municipal culverts at stream crossings?

Question 4: Bond Issue
Public Law 465, Part A
Do you favor a $49,000,000 bond issue to be matched by at least $49,000,000 in private and public funds to modernize and improve the facilities and infrastructure of Maine's public universities in order to expand workforce development capacity and to attract and retain students to strengthen Maine's economy and future workforce?

Question 5: Bond Issue
Public Law 465, Part B
Do you favor a $15,000,000 bond issue to improve educational programs by upgrading facilities at all 7 of Maine's community colleges in order to provide Maine people with access to high-skill, low-cost technical and career education?

Publication of Public Comments on Statewide Referenda in Citizen’s Guide

Public Comments Deadline – August 28, 2018

Any individual, corporation, political action committee or other organization may file public comments in support of or in opposition to a ballot measure for publication in the Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election (“Citizen’s Guide”).  This Citizen’s Guide is published in paper format and distributed to municipal offices as well as libraries in Maine and to any citizen who requests a copy.  The guide is also posted on the Secretary of State’s website.  Ballot measure public comments, which are limited to 300 words or fewer, must be accompanied by a completed application and a cashier’s check or money order in the amount of $500. 

Public comments must be filed with the Secretary of State no later than 5 p.m. on the 70th day prior to the date of the election. The deadline for the November 6, 2018 Referendum Election is August 28, 2018.

For further filing instructions and comment requirements, please reference the following documents:

Instructions for Submission of Public Comments on Statewide Referenda
PDF | Word

Application for Submission of Public Comments on Statewide Referenda
PDF | Word

Rules Regarding Publication of Public Comments on Statewide Referenda
PDF | Word

Ranked-choice Voting (RCV)

The November 6, 2018 General Election will use ranked-choice voting for the federal offices of U.S. Senate and U.S. Representative to Congress. Visit our RCV Resources page for more information about ranked-choice voting, including Frequently Asked Questions and sample ballots.

Campaign Signs Guidance

Guidance from the Maine Department of Transportation on Campaign Signs - .pdf