UMaine UVote

The UMaine UVote program empowers students to participate in elections by providing resources, education, and support. It organizes voter registration drives to increase student voter turnout and promote lifelong democratic engagement. UMaine UVote also oversees UMaine’s Constitution Day efforts.

Explore the links below for information on state and local elections. Ballotpedia is a great information source for viewing upcoming election ballots and being informed of candidates and ballot questions!

Orono Elections Information State of Maine Voter Information Ballotpedia

Registering To Vote

University of Maine students can register to vote in local elections or request absentee ballots for their hometown. For those who vote in local elections, they must register in the district of their academic year housing. On-campus students can register in Orono and off-campus students should register for the town/city of their academic year address, typically Orono, Old Town, Veazie, or Bangor (though each student should be responsible for clarifying their address).

To register to vote for the first time, you will need:

  • Proof of ID (driver’s license, state or student ID, passport, birth certificate)
  • Proof of residency (piece of mail showing an ORONO street address)
State of Maine Voter Information

Town of orono

ALL ORONO VOTERS WILL VOTE AT
The COLLINS CENTER FOR THE ARTS on the UMAINE CAMPUS!
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4th
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

ORONO residents may enroll, or make changes to their registration:

  • Any State BMV Office while conducting other activities.
  • At the ORONO Town Office Monday – Thursday, 7:30am – 5:30pm
  • After October 15th, voters who wish to register must do so in person.
  • On Election Day, however advanced updates are strongly recommended…
Orono Elections Information

Voter Education

Voter education is in ensuring the success and full participation of every student. We recognize that navigating elections presents unique challenges for college students, like the logistics of frequent moving, that can unintentionally limit your voice. UVote provides clear, non-partisan guidance on how to register, identifying your options for where to cast your vote (including absentee and on-campus options), and understanding what is on the ballot, we equip you with the knowledge and confidence needed to fully engage. This foundational support helps you form the lifelong habits of active civic engagement that define a strong community member and a successful Black Bear long after you graduate.

Ballotpedia

By the Numbers

80%

Of UMaine students were registered for the 2024 election.

73%

Of students cast a ballot in the 2024 election.

10+

Years of partnership between the Town of Orono and University of Maine.

Constitution Day

Constitution Day, celebrated annually on September 17, commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.
 
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created. We encourage all Americans to observe this important day in our nation’s history by attending local events in your area. Celebrate Constitution Day through activities, learning, parades and demonstrations of our Love for the United State of America and the Blessings of Freedom Our Founding Fathers secured for us. 


 In honor of Constitution Day on September 17 we will be hosting a campus-wide voter registration drive and provide educational materials on the constitution.  Visit the Memorial Union or Residence Halls to get registered. 

Constitution Day

Absentee ballots

Absentee Ballots may be requested by:
Online at http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl
The voter by telephone by calling 866-2556
Completed application submitted to the Town Clerk at 59 Main St.
Visiting the Town Clerk’s office in-person during regular business hours!
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Thursday, October 30th.
Unless an exception of incapacitation/illness/disability /or absence occurs unexpectedly and is sworn under oath with a signed affidavit by the voter.
Absentee Ballots are expected to be available by October 6th.  Voters may vote an absentee ballot in the Town Office Monday – Thursday 7:30-5:30PM. 
The Town will host two IN-PERSON absentee voting / voter registration days in the Town Council Chambers at 59 Main Street on:  October 24th and October 28th from 7:30AM-4:00PM
The Town will host an IN-PERSON absentee voting / voter registration day at the UMAINE CAMPUS – Collins Center for the Arts on October 30th from 9:00AM-4:00PM.

Don’t forget to use the external Absentee Voting Drop Boxes to deposit voted absentee ballots in two convenient locations:    Town Office and UMAINE’S Memorial Union.

Request Absentee Ballot

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore the most frequently asked questions relating to voter registration and education below!

  • What are the requirements to register to vote in Maine?
    • Be a citizen of the United States
    • Have established and maintain a residence in the municipality where the person intends to register to vote
    • Be at least 17 years of age (must be 18 years old to vote)
    • See Title 21-A, Maine Law on Elections, section 111.
  • How is voting residence determined?
    • Residence is that place where the person has established a fixed and principal home to which the person, whenever temporarily absent, intends to return.
    • Under this definition, residence is something that a person establishes, not something a person chooses.
    • While the definition includes the person’s “intent to return” to a residence, it makes it clear that the residence must in fact exist, and the person must have established it as a fixed and principal home.
    • The law does not define “fixed” or “principal” or “home”.
    • In most cases, a person has only one place where he or she resides, making residency an easy factor for the registrar to determine. However, determining residency becomes more difficult when a person owns or rents a dwelling in more than one municipality.
    • The registrar may consider the following factors (as set forth in section 112) in determining whether a person has established and maintains a voting residence in the municipality:
    • A direct statement of intention by the person pursuant to section 121.1 (an “oath”);
      • The location of any dwelling currently occupied by the person;
      • The place where any motor vehicle owned by the person is registered;
      • The residence address, not a post office box, shown on a current income tax return;
      • The residence address, not a post office box, where the person receives mail;
      • The residence address, not a post office box, shown on any motor vehicle operator’s license the person holds;
      • The receipt of any public benefit conditioned upon residency, defined substantially as provided in this subsection; or
      • Any other objective facts tending to indicate a person’s place of residence.
    • No one may register to vote in more than one place at the same time. When completing a voter registration application, the voter must provide an address for previous registration, or if never registered to vote in another jurisdiction, must write “none” in the space provided.
  • Are there special residency requirements for students, military personnel, incarcerated persons, and citizens living outside the United States?
    • Students:
      • Students have the right to register in the municipality where they attend school, if they have established residency there. Students must meet the same residency requirements as all other potential voters, but may not be asked to meet any additional requirements.
      • Students who are not residents of the municipality in which they attend school cannot register in that municipality. Students must determine where they have established residency and register to vote there. If residency is determined to be in another municipality or state, absentee voting is possible and encouraged.
      • The following items should be kept in mind when determining residency for a college student:
        • A person does not gain or lose a residence solely because of the person’s presence or absence while a student in any institution of learning. This may not be construed to prevent a student at any institution of learning from qualifying as a voter in the municipality where the student resides while attending that institution [Title 21-A, §112.7]
        • When registering students, the registrar must make the determination of residency as he or she would for any potential voter.
        • A student may have only one residence at any one time.
        • If a student has established residency in another municipality or State for any reason, and if the circumstances have not changed, the other jurisdiction may be the legal residence where the student should be registered to vote.
    • Military Personnel:
      • A person does not gain or lose a residence solely because of the person’s presence or absence while employed in the Armed Forces of the United States or of this State [Title 21-A, §112.7 and Article II, Section 1 of the Maine Constitution].
      • A member of the Armed Forces may register or enroll at any time by completing and filing the federal postcard application form or the Maine voter registration form, or by registering in person using a form provided by the registrar.
      • A spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty may have the same voting residence as that person’s spouse.
      • A member of the Armed Forces shall not be considered as having obtained an established residence, however, by being stationed in any garrison, barrack or military place, in any city, town or plantation [Article II, Section 1 of the Maine Constitution].
    • Incarcerated persons:
      • The residence of a person incarcerated in a correctional facility or in a county jail does not include the municipality where a person is incarcerated unless the person had resided in that municipality prior to incarceration.
      • A person incarcerated in a correctional facility may apply to register to vote in any municipality where that person has previously established a fixed and principal home to which the person intends to return [Title 21-A, §112.14].
  • In-Person Options:
    • Visit the Town of Orono at 59 Main Street, Orono, ME
    • Center for Student Involvement (Room 149 Memorial Union) between 8-4:30 Monday-Friday (available until about 3 weeks before the election)
    • At your polling site the day of the election
      • For Orono residents and on campus students this will be in the Collins Center for the Arts (CCA) on November 5!
      • For non-Orono residents – check with your local town office for your closest polling location.
  • Online!
  • Registering to vote just got easier! You may now register online in the State of Maine at https://registertovote.sos.maine.gov/
    • If you live on campus, this is how your residence hall address should be formatted. Note that with online registration you can type your residence hall name into the ‘Street Name’ field and it will appear. You will enter your room number in the ‘Unit #’ field.


ANDROSCOGGIN HALL
5704 Androscoggin Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
AROOSTOOK HALL
5705 Aroostook Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
BALENTINE HALL
5707 Balentine Hall, Room ___
Orono, ME 04469
COLVIN HALL
5716 Colvin Hall, Room __
Orono, ME 04469
CUMBERLAND HALL
5720 Cumberland Hall, Room ___
Orono, ME 04469
GANNETT HALL
5730 Gannett Hall, Room ___
HANCOCK HALL
5731 Hancock Hall, Room ___
HART HALL
5733 Hart Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
KENNEBEC HALL
5738 Kennebec Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
KNOX HALL
5739 Knox Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
OAK HALL
5756 Oak Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
OXFORD HALL
5758 Oxford Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
PENOBSCOT HALL
5759 Penobscot Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
SOMERSET HALL
5767 Stodder Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
STODDER HALL
5755 Stodder Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469
YORK HALL
5783 York Hall, Room __
Orono, Maine 04469

  • Early Vote Day – October 28, Town Council Chambers, Town of Orono, 7:30am – 4pm
  • Early Vote Day – October 30, Collins Center for the Arts, 9am – 3pm
  • General Election – November 4, Collins Center for the Arts, 7am – 8pm
  • The Town of Orono highly encourages requesting an absentee ballot
  • Absentee Ballot requests are available on October 6, 2025 and must be received by the close of business five days before election day (October 31, 2025).
  • Completed Absentee Ballots must be received by the municipal clerk at the no later than 8:00pm on Election Day
  • DO NOT turn your absentee ballot into your Residence Hall
  • Candidates visiting campus: 
    • The University of Maine offers open and equal access to campus and facilities for issues and candidates. Please note campus venues are limited in capacity.
    • Spaces, venues and services must be reserved in advance and require rental fees. Please visit UMaine Events & Hospitality.
    • If you are a candidate coming to campus as a part of a UMaine Affiliated Student Organization’s event, the club must submit a Campus Groups event management form. Questions for these arrangements can be sent to um.getinvolved@maine.edu.
  • Please remember: No candidate or issue-related materials can be posted inside the voting location or within 250 feet of any polling location entrance. Thank you for your cooperation.

Additional Resources:
View UMaine UVote’s Action Plans and NSLVE data by clicking on this link
For more information on voting in Maine, go to https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html
Stay informed about candidates and issues with the resources provided by Fogler Library Hot Topics: Election Guide.
For further information about UMaine UVote, contact The Center for Student Involvement in the Memorial Union, Room 149 or at 207-581-8325.

Stay up to date on current voter engagement efforts on campus by following us on social media:
Facebook: UMaine UVote
Instagram: @um.uvote

Questions?

Email um.getinvolved@maine.edu