MAINE, USA — With just two weeks until Election Day, Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is once again urging absentee voters to mail their ballots as soon as possible to avoid any postal delays that could prevent their votes from being counted.
This reminder echoes a similar message the secretary shared last month, but concerns over the U.S. Postal Service's ability to handle the surge of mail-in ballots persist. Bellows is calling on Mainers to plan accordingly and take steps to ensure their votes arrive on time.
Secretary Bellows has raised the issue of potential delays with the U.S. Postmaster General, who assured her that all absentee ballots will be prioritized within the mail system. However, Bellows remains cautious and is advising voters to consider alternatives to mailing their ballots if time is running short.
"To every voter who's planning to vote absentee, try to return your ballot as quickly as possible," Bellows said.
For voters concerned about mail delays, she suggests dropping ballots off at their municipal clerk’s office or utilizing secure ballot drop boxes.
According to Portland City Clerk Ashley Rand, voters have become more familiar with drop box locations during this election season, leading to greater use of the option. "This is the third election we’ve done this year, so voters are more familiar with our drop boxes now and are utilizing them more than they have been in the past," Rand said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 220,000 absentee ballots have been requested statewide, according to the Maine Secretary of State's Office. More than 120,000 have already been returned. This may be a positive sign that voters are heeding Bellows' advice to submit ballots as soon as possible.
Maine's entire congressional delegation is also addressing concerns about mail delays. U.S. Rep. Jared Golden's office stated that he is working to oppose efforts to reduce timely mail delivery standards in the region.
For voters still worried about the delivery of their absentee ballots, Bellows recommends using the ballot tracking service available on Maine.gov. This tool allows voters to see if their ballot is on track to arrive by Election Day.
If a voter's ballot seems unlikely to arrive on time, Bellows reassures Mainers that they can still vote. "If it looks like your ballot won’t get in on Election Day, you can still go to the polls in person," Bellows said. "The clerk will reject your original absentee ballot, and you’ll be able to cast your vote in person."
As Election Day draws closer, Bellows emphasizes that voting by mail is still a reliable option—as long as voters plan ahead.
Ballots have to be turned in by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
