The Earned Income Tax Credit: More Money for Working Mainers

Rising inflation is taking its toll on Mainers. For many working Mainers, it’s a daily struggle to put food on the table, pay bills, and provide for their families. But the Maine Legislature and Governor Mills are taking steps to help ease the burden, including expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is an anti-poverty tax policy that reduces the taxes owed by low and moderate-income families. It provides eligible filers with a refundable tax credit, increasing their access to housing, childcare, food, and other necessities. This year’s budget puts aside $27.6 million to boost that credit, increasing the maximum benefit by an average of $400 per family for a total average benefit of $764 a year. The increase is expected to impact over 90,000 Mainers.

WATCH: Maine Lawmakers Are Putting $$$ in Workers’ Pockets

By expanding Maine’s EITC, lawmakers are helping more families make ends meet and boosting the local economy in the process. Thank you to our leaders in Augusta for taking action and doing right by working families.

Tuesday Is Election Day in Maine. Here’s What You Need To Know Before Then.

The primary election in Maine is coming up fast.

On Tuesday June 14, 2022, eligible voters across the state will head to the polls to vote in their municipal elections and nominate candidates for their party prior to the general election in the fall.

The primary elections will feature ranked-choice voting, where candidates are ranked in order of preference. To learn more, visit the League of Women Voters’ guide to filling out a ranked choice ballot.

How to cast an absentee ballot:

If you are unable to vote in person or would prefer to vote by mail, no excuse absentee voting is available through Maine’s Online Absentee Ballot Request Service. The service also provides information to overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel about how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. Voters with a disability can also request an accessible ballot through this resource.

The last day to request an absentee ballot or vote early in the presence of the clerk is Thursday June 9, 2022 at 5PM ET. Although you can return your absentee ballot request form through mail, we recommend doing so in person at your local elections office, or online to ensure that your request is received on time.

To be counted, completed absentee ballots must be received by the municipal clerk by 8PM on Election Day. You can return your absentee ballot by mail or hand deliver it to your municipal office.

How to vote in-person on Election Day:

Polling locations across the state will be open until 8PM on Election Day. If you’d prefer to vote in-person on Election Day, you can find your polling location here.

How to register to vote:

If you aren’t currently registered to vote, there’s still time! Mainers can register on or before election day. To register, new voters must show proof of identity and residency at their town office or city hall. A Maine driver's license, a utility bill or government document that states a name and address will be accepted. Voters with a new address can provide those same documents to officials at their new polling location.

Who can vote in Maine’s 2022 primary election?:

All Maine voters can participate in their municipal elections on June 14th whether or not they’re enrolled in a political party, but they must be enrolled in a political party to vote in that party’s primary election. Unenrolled voters who want to vote in a party’s primary election can change their party registration at their polling place to the party whose primary they would like to participate in. When they’re done voting, they can unenroll from that party before leaving the polling place.

Governor Mills signed LD 231 into law last session to allow for semi-open primaries where unenrolled voters can participate in either a Republican or a Democratic primary election without enrolling in a political party, but that law does not take effect until the 2024 election cycle.

For more information on how to vote during Tuesday’s primaries, visit the state website’s Elections & Voting page here.

New Law Provides Electricity Assistance For Maine Small Businesses

In April, the Maine Legislature passed LD 2010 – a bill proposed by Senate President Troy Jackson to provide small businesses some relief from high energy costs.

We are happy to report that Governor Mills signed this bill into law before lawmakers wrapped up this past legislative session.

So what does this new law mean for Maine’s small businesses?

In response to this year’s massive swing in electric rates, LD 2010 will make tiered credit of up to $3,000 available for small businesses with high electricity costs. More specifically, it provides one time $1500, $2,000, or $3,000 tax rebates for small businesses depending on their electricity usage.

Following the bill’s signature, Senate President Troy Jackson shared a few words about the importance of the new legislation.

“If you have these massive increases in electric rates, small business owners will pass them on. When they pass them on it affects everyday working-class people. So that’s why we went forward, trying to do something, figure out something to help them,” said Senator Jackson.

Thank you, Senator Jackson, the Maine Legislature, and Governor Mills for working together to curb electric costs for our small businesses.