The Maine U.S. Senate race is one of eight toss-up races across the country that could shift the balance of power in Washington this election day.

Most polling has had Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson nearly neck-and-neck, with Jackson holding a slight lead in polling averages.

Currently, Republicans hold a majority in the Senate by a handful of seats.

Democrats need to win at least four seats to take back control of the upper chamber.

Meanwhile, Republicans can afford to lose three and still maintain a majority vote with Vice President JD Vance serving as the tiebreaker.

In her final pitch to voters, Sen. Collins has touted her influence in the Senate as the appropriations chair, and her ability to bring major funding for Maine projects.

Jackson, the former Maine Senate President, claims Collins votes too often with President Trump and allowed abortion rights to be overturned with her Supreme Court votes.

Election watchers nationwide are keeping close tabs on the race, but it could take days to get final results if it goes to ranked choice.

Jackson or Collins will have to get 50 percent of the vote plus one to win the race outright and avoid a ranked choice runoff.

Collins, who’s served in the senate for nearly 30 years, has also touted her surprise win against Democrat Sara Gideon in 2020, despite polling that showed Gideon well ahead in that race.

Vandalism at Susan Collins’ Biddeford Office

Vandals left a message at Sen. Collins’ office in Biddeford ahead of Election Day, spelling out the words “blood on her hands.”

Collins’ office says vandals used red paint to leave the message on the sidewalk outside of her office late Monday night.

He campaign says police are investigating the incident.

In September, vandals also spray-painted a vulgar message on the doors to Collins’ office.

Race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District

In Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, former Republican governor Paul LePage and Democratic state auditor and former Secretary of State Matt Dunlap are battling for the seat.

Dunlap says he wants to focus on expanding access to affordable healthcare, lowering the cost of living, and ending what he calls President Trump’s war in the Middle East.

LePage is drawing attention to his record of cutting taxes as governor.

Polls show a tight race between Dunlap and LePage, although numerous Republicans have expressed confidence LePage will carry the Republican-leaning 2nd District.

Bobby Charles and Hannah Pingree vie for the Blaine House

Democratic governor candidate Hannah Pingree geared up for election day by trying to fire up voters over the issues she’s focused on.

That as Democratic supporters around the state knocked on more than 30,000 doors over the weekend.

Pingree is joining her mother, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson to watch election night returns in Portland.

Republican candidate Bobby Charles has been mingling with voters across the state to drum up last minute support for today’s election.

Charles was set to appear at the Hampden Municipal Building on Tuesday.

He’ll then join fellow Republican candidates, Senator Susan Collins and 2nd District Congressional nominee Paul LePage in Bangor for election night.

Independent Rick Bennett will be in Auburn for election night.

Voter Turnout and Election Monitors

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is visiting polling locations in Maine where federal election monitors will be present Tuesday.

Bellows said there hadn’t been any issues with the election monitors as of Tuesday afternoon, and that overall election operations were going smoothly.

She says her office did receive reports during early voting of what she says were political operatives asking intrusive questions and filming voters without their consent.

The U.S. Department of Justice has nine election monitors at polling locations in Portland, South Portland and Lewiston.

Bellows said more than 300,000 Mainers, or about a third of registered voters in the state, had already cast their ballots during the early voting period, putting the state on track to set a new turnout record for a midterm election.