logo

Maine Voters Respond: Respect Our Vote, Don't Repeal Ranked Choice Voting

image
Created: 15 June, 2017
Updated: 17 October, 2022
1 min read

The fate of ranked choice voting in Maine will soon be decided. The State Senate could vote as early as Friday on bills that call for full repeal or a constitutional amendment that would bring ranked choice voting in full compliance with the state constitution.

Supporters are pushing for a middle-of-the-road approach that asks the legislature to move forward with ranked choice voting in primary and federal elections, where there is no constitutional conflict, and then amend the constitution for state general elections (30% of elections under ranked choice voting).

“I think the more lawmakers focus on this , the more they are going to see the merits of moving forward in that direction,” said Kyle Bailey, campaign manager for

Yes on 5 (RCV Maine).

RCV Maine has generated over 1,000 calls, emails, and conversations with state lawmakers in the last few weeks in support of preserving ranked choice voting, which garnered the second-largest referendum victory in Maine history. Nearly 400,000 voters said yes to ranked choice voting (Question 5) on Election Day in November.

Voters have even taken to Twitter to voice their support for ranked choice voting:

https://twitter.com/transscribe/status/874613936188010496

https://twitter.com/thomaspeterson9/status/875016994579415040

https://twitter.com/OwenSchaffer/status/874986163718807552

IVP Existence Banner

https://twitter.com/ElectBetterUSA/status/875129990282477569

“We continue to let Maine voters know about the opportunities to contact their state senators and state representatives, to write a letter to the editor, to let their friends on social media know what is happening here and encourage them to join them in taking action against full repeal of ranked choice voting. It is a knee-jerk reaction that disrespects Maine people,” said Bailey.

Voters aren't the only ones calling on lawmakers to reject full repeal. The biggest newspapers in the state, including its largest, the Portland Press Herald, have pinned editorials telling lawmakers to respect the will of the people. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) has also said the legislature needs to honor the election results.

Latest articles

Good Party
Good Party: A Free Resource to Help Independents Take on the Two-Party Duopoly
In his most recent podcast, former presidential candidate and Forward Party Co-Founder Andrew Yang sat down with Farhad Mohit, the founder of Good Party, a suite of tools offered to independent candidates attempting to overcome the two-party duopoly....
20 May, 2024
-
1 min read
Oakland
Funding Problems Plague Oakland's New 'Democracy Dollars' Program
Nearly three-quarters of Oakland voters (74%) approved an initiative in 2022 that took a comprehensive approach to campaign finance solutions in the city. However, one of its historic changes is in need of funding if it is going to be implemented by 2026; namely, its "democracy dollars" public finance system....
17 May, 2024
-
3 min read
Trump-Biden Debate
Did the Major Party Campaigns Just End the Commission on Presidential Debates?
President Joe Biden’s campaign issued a challenge to former President Donald Trump Wednesday to two debates: One in June and one in September. The debates have to be hosted by a news outlet and will not be conducted in front of a crowd....
15 May, 2024
-
6 min read