Maine Election Rules Differ for Write-In Votes in State vs. Municipal Races
In Maine's state and federal elections, votes for undeclared write-in candidates are not counted and are recorded as blanks, although votes for declared write-in candidates are tallied. Municipal elections in Maine have different rules regarding the counting of write-in votes.
Portland Auburn, ME, November 9, 2026 — Maine election law presents a distinction in how write-in votes are handled, particularly between statewide and municipal contests. For state and federal elections, the outcome for a write-in candidate hinges on whether they have formally declared their candidacy prior to the election.
In the context of Maine’s state and federal elections, votes cast for a candidate whose name is written in by the voter are generally not counted if that candidate has not officially declared their intention to run. These votes are instead recorded as blank ballots. However, this rule has an exception: if a write-in candidate has formally declared their candidacy, the votes cast for them are tallied and included in the election results.
The specifics of write-in vote tabulation can differ significantly at the local level. Municipal elections in Maine operate under separate rules that govern how write-in votes are managed and counted. The precise regulations for municipal races are not detailed in the available information but are understood to vary from the statewide framework.
This divergence in rules means that voters in Maine must be aware of the specific electoral context when casting write-in votes, as their choices may or may not be officially recorded depending on the type of election and the candidate’s declared status. The distinction aims to ensure that only candidates who have met certain procedural requirements participate in the official tally, while allowing for the possibility of popular choices in municipal settings under different guidelines.
Story summarized from the original created by J. Craig Anderson – Maine Trust for Local News on www.pressherald.com, see more information here.
Media gallery
