Squirrel Island, Maine Public Records

Law enforcement services for Squirrel Island are provided by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office (https://www.lincolncountymaine.me/sheriffs-office.html). The sheriff's office maintains records of incident reports, arrests, and other law enforcement activities on the island. Individuals can request copies of these records by submitting a public records request to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

Squirrel Island voters are served by the Lincoln County elections system, administered by the Lincoln County Clerk's Office located at 32 High Street, Wiscasset, ME 04578, phone (207) 882-6311, website www.lincolncountymaine.me. However, because Squirrel Island is not an incorporated municipality, residents do not vote in municipal elections specific to the island; instead, they participate in county, state, and federal elections. Property owners on Squirrel Island who claim Maine residency must register to vote in Maine and are typically registered in the nearest mainland municipality (often Southport or Boothbay Harbor, depending on their permanent address designation). Maine voters can register online through the Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions at www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html, or in person at their municipal clerk's office. The voter registration deadline is 21 days before an election, though Maine allows same-day voter registration at the polls or at the municipal clerk's office on Election Day with proof of identity and residency (valid Maine driver's license, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck showing name and address). Because Squirrel Island has no town government, there are no mayoral, select board, or town council elections specific to the island; governance is handled through a private association, the Squirrel Island Village Corporation. For assigned polling place information, Squirrel Island residents should contact their town clerk's office (Southport or Boothbay Harbor) or use the Maine voter information lookup at www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php. Maine provides comprehensive online access to election records including voter registration lists (available to candidates and political parties under 21-A M.R.S. § 196), campaign finance reports through the Maine Ethics Commission at www.maine.gov/ethics, candidate filings through the Secretary of State, and precinct-level election results at www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results. In the November 2024 presidential election, Lincoln County reported approximately 65-70% voter turnout with roughly 23,000 ballots cast out of approximately 33,000 registered voters, consistent with Maine's historically high participation rates. On November 3, 2026, Lincoln County and Squirrel Island voters will decide several important races: the Maine gubernatorial election (Governor Janet Mills' term expires in 2027, making 2026 a gubernatorial election year), all Maine state legislative seats (State Senate and House of Representatives serve two-year terms), Lincoln County commissioners, the Lincoln County Sheriff, County Treasurer, Register of Deeds, and potentially state ballot initiatives. The U.S. Senate seat held by Senator Susan Collins is not up for election in 2026 (next election 2026), but Maine's U.S. House seats (1st and 2nd Districts) are elected every two years, so Squirrel Island voters will participate in that congressional race. Maine is a national leader in absentee and mail-in voting; any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing an excuse, using the online portal at www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl or by contacting their municipal clerk. Absentee ballot applications must be submitted by the Thursday before Election Day, and completed ballots must be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted.