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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 7 September 2019

Maine to allow ranked votes in general presidential election

By MARINA VILLENEUVE tial elections and primaries.
Associated Press Ranked voting won’t be
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — used in a planned presi-
Maine moved ahead Fri- dential primary in March
day with plans to become 2020, Mills’ office said.
the first state to allow vot- The bill won’t go into effect
ers to rank candidates in a until 90 days after the Leg-
general presidential elec- islature is set to adjourn in
tion. April.
Gov. Janet Mills, a Demo- But future presidential pri-
crat, said she’ll allow a bill maries would use ranked
to become law in January choice voting, according
without her signature. The to the governor’s office.
legislation requires ranked Maine voters in 2016 ap-
choice voting in presiden- proved ranked voting, but

In this Nov. 12, 2018 file photo, ballots are prepared for tabulation in Augusta, Maine, in the
Second Congressional District’s House election, the first congressional race in American history to
be decided by the ranked-choice voting method.
Associated Press
the system was limited to option to vote freely for an cism “falls short of constitu-
federal races and prima- independent or third-party tional impropriety.”
ries. presidential candidate that The governor said Friday
Under the system, voters best speaks to them and still that ranking choice voting
rank three or more candi- indicate a backup choice can empower voters and
dates on a ballot in order between the major-party encourage civility.
of preference. If no candi- candidates,” FairVote pres- But she also expressed fi-
date gets more than 50%, ident and CEO Rob Richie nancial and logistical con-
the last-place candidate is said. cerns about the legislation,
eliminated. David Farmer, a spokes- which she said lacked fund-
The second-choice votes person for The Committee ing and raised questions
of everyone who ranked for Ranked Choice Voting, about how it could affect
that candidate first are al- said it’s “too bad” that Mills the selection of convention
located until someone re- didn’t sign the bill in to law delegates.
ceives over 50%. so voters could rank can- The bill says using ranked
Supporters of the system didates in the crowded choice voting in presiden-
who have been trying to March primary. tial races would prove
spread it to more states The voting method has a “minor cost increase.”
cheered the expansion Fri- drawn criticism from op- Democratic Secretary of
day. Such advocates hope ponents who argue the sys- State Matt Dunlap has esti-
the law could boost the in- tem is too confusing and vi- mated a ranked voting pri-
fluence of an independent olates the U.S. Constitution. mary could cost $100,000.
and third-party presidential Detractors say it’s unfair “By not signing this bill now,
candidate in Maine, one that a candidate who I am giving the Legislature
of two states that split their failed to get the most first- an opportunity to appropri-
electoral votes, and sway place votes can end up ate funds and to take any
the outcome in a tight winning. other appropriate action in
race. “We will not give up on the second regular session
About two dozen cities — this issue,” said the Maine to fully implement ranked-
Including Cambridge, Mas- Heritage Policy Center in a choice voting in all aspects
sachusetts, and St. Paul, Facebook post. Friday. of presidential elections
Minnesota — allow the use Criticism of ranked choice as the Legislature sees fit,”
of ranked choice voting in voting has at times fallen Mills said.
certain elections, accord- along party lines in Maine, Mills said that even without
ing to advocacy group where a Republican con- the bill, parties could still
FairVote. gressman waged an un- use “ranked-choice voting
The group says at least a successful legal battle last or some similar process”
half dozen cities are set to year against the November when selecting delegates.
use the system in upcom- election of his Democratic Maine is set to switch from
ing elections, while several opponent under Maine’s presidential caucuses to a
state Democratic parties, then-new voting system. presidential primary next
such as in Kansas, plan In December, U.S. District March. As the 2020 presi-
to use ranked voting in Judge Lance Walker said dential primary season
presidential primaries next that critics can question the nears, an increasingly small
spring. wisdom of ranked-choice handful of states still have
“Now Mainers have the voting, but that such criti- caucuses.q