Maine Senate Votes to Repeal Will of the People

image
Published: 27 Jun, 2017
1 min read

The Maine Senate voted Tuesday to repeal the first-in-the-nation, voter-approved ranked choice voting initiative for state and federal elections. The mostly party-line vote (the Republican majority, plus some Democrats) approved full repeal, 21-13.

The Maine House did not approve a constitutional amendment on a final vote Friday that would bring ranked choice voting in full compliance with the state constitution, despite a huge amount of support for it.

ALSO READ: Independent Maine Rep: Lawmakers Can’t Turn Their Backs on Voters Now

Thousands of Maine voters called, emailed, and talked to state representatives and senators ahead of the legislature's actions asking them to protect ranked choice voting. However, lawmakers in the Senate are leading the effort to overturn the will of the people.

You Might Also Like

“Cartoon illustration of Americans facing the U.S. Capitol as light pierces through red and blue partisan cracks, representing independent voters and hope for political reform.”
New Poll: Voters Want New Leadership – and They’re Turning to Independents
A new poll from the Independent Center highlights a clear message from the public: Americans are fed up with the current political leadership, and they’re ready for change....
12 Nov, 2025
-
2 min read
Massachusetts voters.
Ranked Choice Voting Momentum Surges in Massachusetts as Cities Push for Local Control
Ranked choice voting (RCV) continues to see a surge in momentum across the U.S. However, the state that has seen the largest reform growth in the last 5 years -- Massachusetts -- has received little attention. This is because the 10 cities that have approved RCV have not been able to implement it due to state law....
14 Nov, 2025
-
5 min read
Caution tape with US Capitol building in the background.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Start the Gerrymandering Fight?
The 2026 midterm election cycle is quickly approaching. However, there is a lingering question mark over what congressional maps will look like when voters start to cast their ballots, especially as Republicans and Democrats fight to obtain any electoral advantage possible. ...
11 Nov, 2025
-
8 min read