Dear Friends and Neighbors,

With Election Day approaching, I've been thinking about what is at stake for people with substance use disorder, people in recovery, and their families.

Over the years, this work has taught me how much our systems matter.

I've seen how difficult it can be for people to get help, how much families carry, and how stigma can create barriers instead of removing them.

I've also learned how much regular people can change that.

I've sat in rooms where stigma was presented as fact and where people struggling with addiction were talked about as problems instead of human beings deserving dignity, compassion, and care. The way we talk about people matters because it shapes the decisions we make about them.

That is why showing up matters.

As you look at your ballot, pay attention to how candidates talk about substance use disorder and recovery. Are they willing to listen to people with lived experience? To learn from the people doing this work? To follow the evidence, even when it challenges what they believe?

And remember, voting is only one way to make a difference. Recovery happens because people show up for one another. Someone answers the phone. Someone offers a ride. Someone listens. Someone gives another person a chance. That is the power of community, and it is the power each of us carries into what comes next.

Our voices matter. Showing up matters. Regular people make a difference.

And no matter what happens on Election Day. We will continue to show up.

In solidarity,

Member of ME-RAP’s Statewide Organizing Team

Want to make your voice heard?



ELECTION DAY IS ALMOST HERE!

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and there's still time to make a plan to vote!

Thursday, October 29 is the last day for regular in-person absentee voting and absentee ballot requests in Maine.

Tuesday, November 3 is Election Day! Polls close at 8 PM, and all absentee ballots must be received by then.

Missed the online registration deadline? You can still register in person through Election Day! ME-RAP can help you get started.

Not sure where to vote? Use Maine's Voter Information Lookup Service to find your polling location.

nothing about us without our vote.

There is a lot at stake in this election. Decisions about healthcare, housing, treatment, recovery services, and harm reduction affect our neighbors, our families, and the people we love.

The people most affected by these decisions deserve a voice in shaping them.

At ME-RAP, we'll continue standing alongside our communities, lifting up the voices of people with lived and living experience, and advocating for a Maine where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Because this is about people. And people are worth fighting for.

YOUR BALLOT IS NOT A TEST.

You don't have to walk into the voting booth knowing everything!

Research candidates, look over ballot questions, write down your choices, and bring your notes with you when you vote!

Need help getting started? Here are two helpful resources:

check out these voter guides before you vote!

Portland Recovery Community Center's 2026 Gubernatorial Voter Guide explores candidates' positions on recovery housing, treatment, peer support, recovery funding, and opioid settlement funds.

The Maine Monitor's 2026 Voter Guide provides a broader look at candidates, elections across Maine, and resources to help you prepare.

Remember, voting isn't a test. You don't have to memorize your answers!

how does ranked-choice voting work

Some races on your ballot may look a little different! Maine uses ranked-choice voting in certain elections, allowing you to rank candidates in order of preference.

You don't have to rank every candidate. You can rank as many or as few as you'd like, including just one. This November, ranked-choice voting will be used in the U.S. Senate race and Maine's 2nd Congressional District race.

Want to learn more? Maine's Secretary of State has examples of completed ballots and additional ranked-choice voting resources available online.

know your voting rights

Your right to vote matters, and so does your right to feel safe while exercising it.

In Maine, eligible voters can vote even if they have a felony conviction, are incarcerated, or are experiencing homelessness.

Already registered? You generally don't need to show identification to receive your ballot. You can also request assistance with voting, and if you're in line by 8 PM, you still have the right to vote.

Voter intimidation is illegal. No one has the right to threaten, harass, or pressure you about how to cast your ballot. If you experience a problem at the polls, speak with the election warden or contact Maine's Elections Division at 207-624-7650.

Learn more through the Maine Secretary of State's voting rights guide.