Important Information for Immigrants and Partners on Voter Registration
For Immigrants
Congratulations to all naturalized U.S. citizens in Maine who are registering to vote and voting in upcoming elections!
For immigrants in Maine who are NOT U.S. citizens, please be careful you do not register to vote or vote at this time. Only U.S. citizens can vote or register to vote. This is true for all U.S. and State elections. Under immigration law, non-citizens who register to vote or who vote can face serious immigration penalties, including deportation. It does not matter if they registered or voted by mistake, or were told by others it was safe to do so.
Maine voter registration forms have a check box asking, “Are you a citizen of the United States of America?” You should only check “Yes” and continue to register if you are legally a U.S. citizen.
A U.S. citizen is not the same as a “resident” or “person living in the U.S.” A U.S. citizen someone who was born in the U.S. or who went through the citizenship application process and was sworn in as a U.S. citizen, or who legally acquired U.S. citizenship through a U.S. citizen parent.
Please exercise caution and be certain that you are a U.S. citizen before registering to vote in Maine. And please DO register to vote and vote if and when you become a U.S. citizen in the future!
For Partners
Are you helping others register to vote and to vote?
As you do the exciting and important work of educating Mainers on voting and voter registration, please be sure everyone understands that ONLY U.S. citizens may register or vote. And that, for non-citizens, a mistake can have serious consequences under U.S. immigration laws.
Click below to learn how to keep immigrants safe while helping with voter registration!