What is the abbreviation for Maine, and what region is it in?

Maine's two-letter postal abbreviation is ME. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the Northeast region, in the New England division, and about 1.36 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When did Maine become a state, and what number state was it?

Maine became the 23rd state on March 15, 1820. For more than a century before that it was part of Massachusetts, known as the District of Maine.

Why did Maine separate from Massachusetts?

Many residents of the District of Maine wanted their own government, and in 1819 they voted for separation, which Massachusetts allowed. In Congress, Maine's admission as a free state was paired with Missouri's admission as a slave state in the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which kept the Senate balanced between free and slave states.

Where does the name Maine come from?

The origin is uncertain. One theory is that it comes from sailors' use of "the main" or "mainland" to tell the coast apart from its many islands; another links it to the French province of Maine.

What is the capital of Maine, and has it always been the capital?

Augusta has been the capital since 1832. Portland, Maine's largest city, was the capital from statehood in 1820 until the move. The State House in Augusta was designed by Charles Bulfinch, who also worked on the U.S. Capitol.

Maine is the only state that borders exactly one other state, New Hampshire, to the west. It shares a long border with the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick, and its southeastern edge is Atlantic coastline. West Quoddy Head, near Lubec, is the easternmost point of the contiguous United States.

What are Maine's nickname, motto, and symbols?

Maine is known as "The Pine Tree State." Its motto is "Dirigo," Latin for "I Lead." Its state bird is the black-capped chickadee, its flower is the white pine cone and tassel, its tree is the eastern white pine, and its animal is the moose.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Maine have?

Based on the 2020 census, Maine has 2 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the same as before, which gives it 4 electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska are the only states that can split their electoral votes: two go to the statewide winner and one to the winner of each congressional district.

Does Maine use ranked-choice voting?

Yes. Maine voters approved ranked-choice voting in 2016, and in 2018 it became the first state to use it statewide, for primaries and federal general elections. Voters rank the candidates in order, and if no one wins a majority of first choices, the last-place candidate is dropped and those ballots count toward their next choice. Learn more about how elections work.

U.S. State23rd State • March 15, 1820

Maine ME

"The Pine Tree State"

Rocky coastlines, endless forest, world-famous lobster, and the first sunrises in America, Maine is the northeast corner of the country and unlike anywhere else in the United States.

State Debt - FY2024

$5.3 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$6.5 billion

Total Maine state tax collections in fiscal 2024, led by the individual income tax ($2.4B) and the general sales tax ($2.4B).

Borrowing

Maine borrows only through general obligation bonds that voters approve at referendum, backed by the state's full faith and credit and sold to investors in the municipal market. Maine's tax-supported debt is among the lowest in the country. The state reported about $215 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

1.4M

Population

23rd

State (1820)

~80%

U.S. Lobster Supply

89%

Forested Land

Maine's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hello, Maine. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a governor, one of your U.S. senators, your member of the U.S. House, your state legislators, and county and local offices. There are no statewide referendum questions this year.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. Gov. Janet Mills is term-limited, so the Blaine House is open.

Heads up on the ballot itself: your U.S. Senate and U.S. House races use ranked-choice voting, but the governor's race doesn't. And the Democratic Senate nominee changed over the summer: primary winner Graham Platner withdrew in July, and the party picked Troy Jackson to replace him.

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 5, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Absentee ballots began going out, 30 days before the election; in-person absentee voting open at town and city halls	Early October
Last day to request an absentee ballot or vote absentee in person (close of business)	Thursday, October 29
Election Day: polls close at 8 p.m. (opening times vary by town, 6 to 10 a.m.); absentee ballots must arrive by 8 p.m.	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Maine

Maine has same-day registration: you can register and vote on Election Day at your town or city clerk's office or polling place, or register ahead of time. Bring proof of identity and where you live when you register.

Any voter can vote absentee; no reason needed. Request a ballot online, by mail, or in person by close of business on October 29, or vote absentee in person at your town or city hall until then. Your ballot must reach your town or city clerk, by mail or a drop box, by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

On Election Day, polls close at 8 p.m.; your town sets an opening time between 6 and 10 a.m. Maine doesn't require photo ID to vote at the polls; in 2025, voters rejected a voter ID question 64 percent to 36 percent.

For U.S. Senate and U.S. House, you can rank the candidates. For governor and state races, you pick one. Find your polling place and your town's hours through the Secretary of State.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Maine's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 5, 2026

Key Dates

Absentee ballots began going out, 30 days before the election; in-person absentee voting open at town and city halls

Early October

Last day to request an absentee ballot or vote absentee in person (close of business)

Thursday, October 29

Election Day: polls close at 8 p.m. (opening times vary by town, 6 to 10 a.m.); absentee ballots must arrive by 8 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Maine

For U.S. Senate and U.S. House, you can rank the candidates. For governor and state races, you pick one. Find your polling place and your town's hours through the Secretary of State.

Maine's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Maine

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Maine's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Maine

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading