High early voting—nearly 290,000 ballots returned by early November, up sharply from comparable 2022 levels with Democrats holding a substantial registration edge in returns—combined with a competitive U.S. Senate contest between incumbent Susan Collins and challenger Troy Jackson has driven trader consensus toward the 700,000–750,000 first-round turnout bin. Recent polling averages show Jackson ahead by roughly four points among likely voters, sustaining mobilization efforts on both sides in a state where ranked-choice voting and several write-in candidates apply. Forecasts from models projecting around 740,000 total ballots align with this range, reflecting elevated midterm participation without presidential coattails. No major last-minute disruptions have altered these dynamics.