The 2026 Second Chance Index
How Maine ranks for second chances
Maine ranks 31st of 51 in the 2026 Second Chance Index, scoring 58 out of 100 for clearing a record, voting rights and where its felony line falls. That's 3.5 points below the median state (61.5).
Built from Maine's record-clearing, voting and felony-class records, last checked October 30, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
58 out of 100
- Clearing a record
- 18 / 50
- Voting rights
- 30 / 30
- Where the felony line falls
- 10 / 20
Every point Maine earned and missed
Each line is a field we publish about Maine, checked against state law and official guidance. The points are the index's; the method lists every one.
Clearing a record
18 of 50 points| What we score | Maine | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Some records clear automatically | Limited automatic clearing | 10/15 |
| A general route to clear a felony | None found | 0/12 |
| A general route to clear a misdemeanor | None found | 0/8 |
| A way to clear a case with no conviction | Yes | 8/8 |
| A fee waiver on at least one route | None found | 0/4 |
| A DUI conviction can be cleared | No | 0/3 |
Voting rights
30 of 30 points| What we score | Maine | Points |
|---|---|---|
| When the vote comes back after a felony | Never lost | 30/30 |
Where the felony line falls
10 of 20 points| What we score | Maine | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Theft becomes a felony at | More than $1,000 | 5/10 |
| Repeat DUI becomes a felony | Set by other rules | 5/10 |
Where the 42 missing points are
- 12A general route to clear a felony: None found
- 8A general route to clear a misdemeanor: None found
- 5Some records clear automatically: Limited automatic clearing
- 5Theft becomes a felony at: More than $1,000
- 5Repeat DUI becomes a felony: Set by other rules
- 4A fee waiver on at least one route: None found
- 3A DUI conviction can be cleared: No
The index scores what state law says, not how courts apply it. A lower score doesn't mean Maine offers no relief; its pages list every route.
States ranked near Maine
- #29Virginia59
- #29Washington59
- #31Maine58
- #32Arkansas57.5
- #32West Virginia57.5
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "How Maine ranks for second chances" https://secondchanceindex.com/state-rankings/maine, checked October 30, 2026.