Live Coverage: Here’s what every Mainer needs to know about the election.

With King ahead, ranked-choice race for Maine’s US Senate seat not yet called

It is not yet clear if U.S. Sen. Angus King will return to Capitol Hill as the four-way U.S. Senate race remained too close to call, as of 3 a.m. Wednesday.

At that time, the former Maine governor had more than 52% of the vote, which would be enough for him to secure a victory in the ranked-choice race, but with 69% of the vote counted, the race had not yet been called by the Associated Press.

Republican challenger Demi Kouzounas had 33.8%, while Democrat David Costello and independent Jason Cherry had 10.6% and 2.5%, respectively, as of 3 a.m.

Read more here.

Mainers vote to reform campaign finance, open path for Supreme Court to weigh in

Mainers voted on Tuesday to place limits on donations to political action committees that independently spend money to try to support or defeat candidates — teeing up a path to get the U.S. Supreme Court to reassess some campaign finance regulations.

The citizen referendum, which received 74% of voter support with 62% of votes counted as of 2:20 a.m. Wednesday, asked, “Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?”

The ultimate goal of those behind the question, however, is to get the high court to rule that PACs should be regulated.

Read more here.

Candidates wait for every vote to be counted in Maine’s too-close-to-call 2nd District race

The result of the race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District that drew national attention was too close to call as of 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.

With 60% of the vote counted, incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden had 50.18% of the votes compared to the 49.5% earned by his challenger, freshman state lawmaker Republican state Rep. Austin Theriault, according to the Associated Press.

In a message posted just before 2 a.m., Theriault said that the race is not over.

“Let’s keep the faith and continue to pray — we’ve got a lot of votes yet to count,” he wrote on social media. “Let’s continue the fight tomorrow and let’s win this thing!”

Shortly after the polls closed, Golden issued a statement saying that amid a divisive political landscape he felt “good about running a campaign focused on the issues that matter to Mainers — our safety, our freedoms, our health care and our jobs.”

“As we wait for every ballot to be counted, I want to thank Maine voters for turning out to participate in the greatest democracy the world has ever known,” he added.

Read more here.

Harris and Trump split Maine’s congressional districts

While the final presidential results are not yet clear, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump each won at least one of Maine’s electoral votes by each securing a congressional district.

Unlike every other state but Nebraska, Maine splits its electoral votes. Two are awarded to the candidate who wins the overall popular vote and then each congressional district awards one to the candidate who secured the most votes in that district.

The Associated Press called the race in Maine’s southern district for the Democratic nominee at roughly 10:50 p.m. Harris had 65.7% of votes to former President Donald Trump’s 31.6%, with 15% of votes counted.

Just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, the race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District was called, with Trump earning 53.8% of the vote to Harris 43.9%, with 59% of votes counted.

In 2016, Trump won the 2nd District 51% to 41%. Four years later, he won the district 52% to 45%.

As of 2 a.m. Wednesday, the AP had not yet called the overall winner in Maine, though Harris was heavily favored.

Read more here.

Pingree proves victorious for another term representing Maine’s 1st District

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree will keep the seat she has held since 2009 representing Maine’s 1st Congressional District after a landslide win in Tuesday’s election.

Pingree received 59.8% of the vote with 45% of the vote counted, the Associated Press announced Wednesday. The race used ranked-choice voting since the congresswoman faced two challengers — Republican Ron Russell and unenrolled independent Ethan Alcorn.

Read more here.

CD2 challenger Theriault said he’s ‘cautiously optimistic we’re going to pull this off’

Addressing supporters at roughly 11:15 p.m., Austin Theriault said that he’s “cautiously optimistic that we’re going to pull this off.” 

The Republican, who is challenging 2nd District U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, said it’s going to be a long night ahead, with a few hours to go before a winner is declared. 

“I feel confident about where we are right now,” he told the crowd assembled at Hollywood Casino in Bangor. “We really want to fight for rural Maine, that’s what this campaign’s been about.” 

Gov. Mills: ‘How the hell does Pennsylvania have so many counties?’

Just before 11:30 p.m., Gov. Janet Mills thanked those at the Democratic watch party in Portland for staying the course and supporting Democratic candidates up and down the ballot.

“I know many of you are exhausted,” Mills said. “So many of you have been out canvassing for weeks and months, many of you putting things up on social media, making phone calls, phone banking all around the state and working for our terrific Democratic candidates, from city council to state Legislature to Congress to the presidency.”

“And right now, we’re all watching TV, and I’m going, ‘How the hell does Pennsylvania have so many counties?'” she joked.

Results are going to take a while, Mills said, and encouraged attendees to get some rest and recuperate from the campaign season. 

“And, keep the faith,” Mills added. “We’re going to know a lot more in the morning.”

Mills also said she is optimistic they will maintain Democratic majorities in the Maine House of Representatives and Senate. “I’m very hopeful about keeping many of those seats, and maybe gaining one or two here and there,” Mills said.

Harris wins Maine’s 1st Congressional District

While the final presidential results are not yet clear, Vice President Kamala Harris won at least one of Maine’s electoral votes by securing the 1st Congressional District.

The Associated Press called the race in Maine’s southern district for the Democratic nominee at roughly 10:50 p.m. Harris had 65.7% of votes to former President Donald Trump’s 31.6%, with 15% of votes counted.

Unlike every other state but Nebraska, Maine splits its electoral votes. Two are awarded to the candidate who wins the overall popular vote and then each congressional district awards one to the candidate who secured the most votes in that district.

It remains to be seen who will clinch the popular vote and the 2nd Congressional District, which Trump secured in 2020 and 2016.

Read more here.

UMaine student volunteers register new voters

At the flagship campus in Orono, many University of Maine students helped register new voters as Maine saw high same-day registration numbers across the state. At the Collins Center for the Arts, Rob Glover, an associate professor of political science, was joined by several students and other volunteers helping voters register before they cast a ballot.

Maggie Tucker, a 19-year-old student, said her motivation for volunteering was wanting to be civically engaged in the first presidential election she’s eligible to vote in. By hour three of her 6-hour shift, she registered some people she recognized from campus, which made her feel like she was part of the community, she said.

“It was a steep learning curve learning how to register voters, but once I figured it out, it went smoothly,” Tucker said.

“It feels like I’m doing something important.”

The polls start closing and an exhausted nation awaits an answer. Who will be president?

The 2024 presidential election result hangs in the balance as election workers across the United States tally ballots that will determine whether Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump earn the necessary prized Electoral College votes.

Trump maintained a lead in the race, with The Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ as of about 8 p.m. Eastern projecting wins for Trump in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. Decision Desk also projected a Trump win in Missouri.

Both sources have projected Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont for Harris.

Read more coverage from States Newsroom’s DC Bureau here.

Maine Democrats knocked on more than 80,000 doors in recent days

Chair of the Maine Democratic Party Bev Uhlenhake opened the party’s watch party in Portland by saying, “Tonight, it feels really really good to be in a room full of Democrats.”

In the last four days, volunteers for the Democratic Party knocked on more than 82,000 doors and made more than 456,000 phone calls, Uhlenhake said. 

“I just want to thank our volunteers, because you are all the ones who lead with your values as you talk to folks… We are a better state because of the conversations you’ve had,” Uhlenhake said. 

As results come in, Uhlenhake added that there is reason to celebrate whether clarity is achieved on the outcome of races tonight or not, “because we’ve got so much good that has happened over the last year.”

Maine GOP chair predicts ‘a great night for Maine, and for America’

Speaking with Maine Morning Star at the Hollywood Casino in Bangor, Maine GOP chair Joel Stetkis predicted “it’s going to be a great night for Maine, and for America.”

“We are on the verge of saving our country and saving our state,” Stetkis said before any Maine election results were announced. Republicans were gathered in Bangor, awaiting results from the Maine 2nd Congressional District race. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is facing a challenge from freshman state legislator Austin Theriault in one of a handful of U.S. House races that national Republicans are hoping to flip to gain control of the chamber.

Stetkis also said that the party “doubled the numbers of early voters for Republicans from last election.”

Donald Trump picks up three states

By 7:45 p.m., the Associated Press called three states for Donald Trump. The former president picked up 23 electoral votes early on from Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Read coverage from the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Kentucky Lantern and West Virginia Watch.

Kamala Harris takes Vermont

By 7:00 p.m. Tuesday — just moments after polls closed — the Associated Press called the state for Kamala Harris, granting the Democratic nominee three electoral votes.

Read the Vermont Digger’s coverage here.

Mainers can likely expect results tonight, unless races headed to ranked-choice run-offs

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows visited about a dozen polling places throughout the state Tuesday.

“Everywhere we go, we’ve seen some great lines,” she said at her penultimate stop in Bangor at the Cross Insurance Center. “And in some ways, we like lines on Election Day because that means voter turnout is strong.”

On top of that there were nearly 45% more early voters than the 2016 presidential election, the last comparable year as the 2020 presidential race occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on anecdotal evidence, same-day voter registration numbers also appeared strong this year, which contributed to what she said was a good turnout. But it’s too early to tell if previous turnout records could be broken, she said. 

Maine led the country with 62% turnout in 2022, and was third in 2020. 

Votes in Maine get counted at polling places on election night, and clerks have two business days to report results to the Secretary of State’s office. Clerks may release reports to media, Bellows said, which means there’s a good chance Mainers may have some idea of whom voters elected tonight. 

“That being said, if [the 2nd Congressional District] comes down to ranked choice tabulation, then it’s going to be several days, maybe even a week before we have final determination of a winner in that district,” she said, referring to both the presidential and congressional races.

University of Southern Maine students participate in mass walk to the polls

Freshman Kaylee Hersom, joined one of several walks to the polls at University of Southern Maine on Tuesday designed to help students exercise their civic duty.

Organized in partnership with Maine Students Vote, a local non-partisan non-profit that promotes youth civic engagement, Hersom attended the final walk on the Gorham campus at 4 p.m. — alongside university president Jacqueline Edmondson and first dog Elbow — following walks earlier in the day at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Brendon Rogers-Reed, coordinator of student engagement and leadership at USM, said the walks were open to all students, some of whom voted early but wanted to participate in the action. 

“It’s an important cause,” said Hersom, who said she decided to join even though she’d already voted by absentee ballot in her home state of North Carolina, which is considered a swing state for the presidential race.  .

Hersom, who is 19 years old, cast her vote for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris because she felt Harris aligned most with her policy preferences, notably reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights.

As a first-time voter, Hersom said she was nervous about the process when she first received her ballot but ultimately found the instructions to be straightforward and had experience accompanying her parents to the polls in previous elections. 

Hersom, and a few of her friends who had also cast absentee ballots noted that when voting by mail, they didn’t get an “I voted” sticker. They’re hoping the Gorham polling place will offer them one so they, too, can show their community that they exercised their right to vote. 

Maine early voting numbers far surpass previous years

The number of early voters in Maine was nearly 45% more than the 2016 presidential election, the last comparable year as the 2020 presidential race occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, the Secretary of State’s office reported 373,841 early voting ballots were returned, compared with 258,457 in 2016.

Portland voters reported hour+ wait times

Lines of voters extended outside the Portland Exposition building Tuesday. This morning, voters reported hour-plus wait times. Waits have shortened this afternoon, though those waiting to also do same-day voter registration are seeing steeper wait times than those who registered prior to voting.

Maine Secretary of State said school shooting hoax sought to deter voting

The Maine Secretary of State’s office confirmed that voting itself was not interrupted, although in South Portland there was a temporary pause on people going in and out of the building.

“These criminals were trying to interrupt our election and thanks to the smart work and preparation of our law enforcement and election officials, voting has continued and the hoaxes did not succeed,” said Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.

Maine Secretary of State spokesperson Emily Cook underscored that there was “never any danger to the public” but that “people should make sure if they haven’t already voted to get out and do it now,” saying the hoax was meant to deter people from voting.

Cook said other than this, “it’s been a very smooth day” with strong turnout across the state.

Read more here.

Maine State Police says active shooter threats not credible

In response to various crisis lines receiving threats Tuesday morning of armed individuals on multiple school campuses around the state, the Maine State Police issued a statement saying the reports are not credible.

According to spokesperson Shannon Moss, the state police “are working with our various partners and can confirm these initial calls were swatting incidents intended to provoke an emergency response.”

“There is presently no known threat to the students, staff or public at this time,” Moss continued. “The Department of Public Safety encourages law enforcement and school leadership to continue to use due diligence when reviewing any new potential threats.”

According to the Portland Press Herald, at least eight high schools went into lockdown in response to the calls, which been confirmed in Portland, South Portland, Lewiston, Oxford Hills, Scarborough, Bangor, Gorham and North Berwick.

Maine election officials say they are prepared, confident in voting integrity

Searsport deputy clerk Jennifer Rich took on the part time role, which she joked has become a full-time job as Election Day nears, because she wanted to assess for herself the security of Maine’s election process.

A retired middle school math teacher who said she’s never been one for political parties, Rich helped run early voting in the seaport town. She greeted voters — often people she already knew by name — as they entered the town office decorated with American flag signs and pillows. She runs regular checks on the voter tabulation machine, which she pointed out does not connect to the internet, and ensured all ballots were accounted for by each day’s end.

After seeing the process firsthand, Rich said she wants her community to have faith in the election system — or volunteer to see for themselves.

Across the state, election officials like Rich have long been preparing for the Nov. 5 election, overseeing early voting since Oct. 7 and preparing for Election Day itself. These officials detailed days filled with trainings, issuing absentee ballots, processing early ballots as they’re returned in preparation to run totals when polls close, preparing supplies and fielding voter questions — which many said they view as a particularly crucial part of their role amid concerns about election integrity nationwide.

You can read the rest of this story here.

Volunteers report enthusiastic support for red flag law initiative

Biddeford resident Johanna Sorrell is among the 500 volunteers at polling places Tuesday for a campaign to put a red flag law on Maine’s ballot. She said after the 2023 mass shooting, she’s finding lots of enthusiastic support, particularly from people in law enforcement and the military. She said she even spoke to someone who was a first responder in Lewiston.

The issue of gun reform can be “triggering” for many people, she noted, apologizing for the pun. But once you “get past the word salad” and explain what the rule does, many people come around. “People say, ‘no’ and then they say ‘yes,’” Sorrell said.

By 10:30am she had collected over 2800 signatures from her post at Biddeford High School.

You can read more about the initiative here.

How did we get here?

States Newsroom’s Shauneen Miranda looks at some of the unprecedented events that have rocked this presidential race as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump sprint to the finish line in the hopes of securing the nation’s highest post. You can read about some of the highs — and lows — of the historic 2024 presidential campaign here.

Who’s on the ballot?

Tuesday’s ballot will include the presidential race largely between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, but voters will also have the chance to select candidates for other federal, state and local offices.

In Maine, there are three other federal races at stake, but voters will only see two on their ballot. Every voter in the state will have the chance to weigh in on the U.S. Senate race between independent incumbent Sen. Angus King and his three challengers: Republican Demi Kouzounas, Democrat David Costello and independent Jason Cherry. 

There will also be a U.S. House race on every ballot, but voters in the 1st Congressional District will be deciding whether to give Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree another term, while 2nd District voters will be deciding the same fate for Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Jared Golden. 

Pingree is facing two challengers — Republican Ron Russell and unenrolled independent Ethan Alcorn. Golden is up against Republican Austin Theriault, a freshman state legislator and former NASCAR driver. Unenrolled write-in candidate Diana Merenda will not appear on the 2nd District ballot but has launched a campaign in protest of the war on Gaza.

The contest between Golden and Theriault is among the races being watched nationally as it could tip the scales for which party controls the U.S. House.

Because third party candidates will appear on Maine’s presidential ballot, the race will use ranked-choice voting. These candidates include Libertarian Chase Oliver, Jill Stein of the Green Independent Party, and Cornel West of the Justice for All Party.

Continuing down the ballot, every seat for the Maine Legislature is up for reelection Tuesday. Voters will weigh in on candidates for both the Maine Senate and House of Representatives. Here are the races we are keeping a close eye on and why.

If you live in one of the 28 House districts and two Senate districts with only one candidate running, you won’t have to wait until the polls close to see who will be representing you in Augusta next session.

There will also be five statewide referendum questions to decide on. 

Question One will ask voters if they would like to limit contributions to independent political action committees in Maine. There will also be three bond questions: one focused on research and development, one on trail improvements and the third on restoring historic buildings. Finally, Question Five will ask voters to decide whether the state should adopt a new flag based on the already ubiquitous Pine Tree Flag design. 

To find what is on your specific ballot — such as local referendum questions and municipal candidates — you can enter your address on the Vote 411 website. 

This post was updated to include more information about third party candidates.

Not too late to register to vote

If you haven’t registered to vote, it’s not too late. You can register at your city hall, town office or polling place. All you need is an ID and proof of residency, such as a utility bill.

People who are unhoused may register to vote, even if they don’t have a traditional address. Instead of residency documentation, they can provide a physical description of their residence to their municipal clerk under oath.

Find your polling place

The Maine.gov website offers a voter information lookup feature to find polling places and a sample ballot. 

Enter your home address to search for your unique information. Polls open between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. You can find specific hours for your location on the Upcoming Elections page on the Maine secretary of state website.