Handbook·Elections

Running for office in Maine

State page·Verified 2026-07-10

This page covers what's specific to Maine on top of the general guide to filing for local office.

Filing in Maine

Maine's Secretary of State doesn't run municipal elections. Local races are governed by Title 30-A of state law and by each town or city's own charter, and are administered by the municipal clerk rather than the state. To get on a local ballot you generally need nomination papers signed by registered voters in your municipality, which you obtain from and file with the town or city clerk.

Deadlines and numbers

  • Required signatures scale with town size: 3 to 10 in towns of 200 or fewer residents, 10 to 25 in towns of 201 to 500, and 25 to 100 in towns over 500
  • The clerk must make nomination papers available starting 40 days before the filing deadline
  • Completed nomination papers are due back to the clerk by the 60th day before election day
  • Each signer must list a residence address, and a voter may sign nomination papers for more than one candidate for the same office

The dossier couldn't confirm whether a filing fee applies as an alternative to signatures for municipal office. State-level guidance focuses on nomination papers rather than fees. Exact signature counts and filing windows also vary by town charter. Confirm both directly with your municipal clerk or through /engage.

Where to go