What’s the process for voting in Maine’s first presidential primary in two decades?

AUGUSTA — The first presidential primary in Maine in two decades will be held March 3, for both parties.
The Maine Legislature enacted a law in 2019 that changes the way Maine voters select candidates for the presidential election, from a caucus to a primary. Previously, political parties met in each town or city to pick their candidate. Now, voters will pick their party’s candidate at the polls, in a secret ballot. The change was supported by many who felt that it would boost voter participation in the selection process. In the past, some of the caucus locations were not large enough to accommodate all the party members who wanted to participate, and other party members couldn’t spend the hours required at caucuses to cast a vote.
In addition to the presidential candidates, there will be one referendum question on the ballot.
Any registered voter can vote on the referendum question. However, to vote in the primaries, you have to register for a party. Unenrolled, or independent, voters may enroll in the party of their choice up to and including on election day. If, after the election, you want to unenroll from the party, you must wait three months. Voters who are already enrolled and want to change their party affiliation to vote a primary ballot must do so 15 days before the election.
Absentee ballots may be requested up to three months before an election and until the third business day before the election. For the presidential primaries on March 3, the latest date to request a ballot is Feb. 27. (Under certain special circumstances, a voter may request an absentee ballot after this deadline.) Absentee ballots are available 30 days before elections and must be turned into the city or town office by 8 p.m. on the day of the election, March 3.
The following candidates will be on Maine’s ballot, according to the Maine Secretary of State’s office:
Democrats: Joseph Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Cory Booker, Peter Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Patrick Deval, Bernard Sanders, Thomas Steyer, Elizabeth Warren, Marianne Williamson, Andrew Yang.
Republicans: Donald J. Trump
Question 1: People’s Veto — Do you want to reject the new law that removes religious and philosophical exemptions to requiring immunization against certain communicable diseases for students to attend schools and colleges and for employees of nursery schools and health care facilities? A “Yes” vote means veto the law and reinstate the religious and philosophical exemptions. A “No” vote means keep the law and close those non-medical exemptions. In May 2019, LD 798 was signed into law, eliminating non-medical exemptions to school-required immunizations. The law retains the defined medical exemptions, but removes “philosophical reasons” and “religious belief” from the exemption language. The law allows physicians and nurse practitioners to write medical exemptions using their professional judgment.

— This guide was provided by the nonpartisan Maine League of Woman Voters, Capital Area Chapter.