Lewiston residents will vote February 24 to fill seat vacated by Kristen Cloutier
AUGUSTA, MAINE – No-excuse absentee voting starts today for the February 24, 2026, Special Election for House District 94. Voters can request an absentee ballot online, by phone and may also vote in person when the Lewiston city clerk’s office is open.
House District 94 is comprised of part of Lewiston, and the House seat was previously held by State Representative Kristen Cloutier, who resigned effective October 31, 2025. The candidate who is elected by the voters in House District 94 at the February 24, 2026, special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term in the Maine House.
Key dates to know:
- Deadline to register to vote: In-person voter registration is available through the close of the polls on Election Day.
- Deadline to request an absentee ballot or vote in-person absentee: District 94 voters can request an absentee ballot through close of business on Thursday, February 19, unless special circumstances exist.
Absentee voting:
Maine’s no-excuse absentee voting law means that any Maine voter may choose to vote absentee, whether in person at their town or city hall, or at home. No-excuse absentee voting continues through close of business the Thursday before an election. Hours for in-person absentee voting at a town or city hall are set by each municipality. Municipal office hours are listed at maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/index.html.
- Requesting an absentee ballot: Absentee ballots may be requested online at maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl. Voters may also contact their town hall to request a ballot or submit a paper application for an absentee ballot; the request must be received at least three business days before Election Day unless special circumstances exist.
- Tracking an absentee ballot: Once a ballot request is submitted, Maine voters can track the process of that request and their ballot at: apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/ballot_status.pl. Voters who need a replacement ballot should contact their municipal clerk.
- Returning an absentee ballot: In many towns and cities, voters have the option of returning an absentee ballot to a secured drop box.
Voter registration:
When registering for the first time, voters must provide proof of residency and identity. Current or former incarceration status does not disqualify any Mainer from registering to vote or casting their ballot. Incarcerated persons at a correctional facility or county jail may register to vote in the Maine municipality where they established residency prior to incarceration. Mainers who need to register to vote, are unsure if they are already registered, or who need to update their registration, such as with a new address or party enrollment, should contact their municipal clerk’s office. Contact information for municipal clerks and registrars is available at www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/munic.html.
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