Expansion of ranked-choice voting would be unconstitutional, Maine high court finds
Portland Press Herald - Maine Sunday Telegram • • nation
Key Points:
- The Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously ruled that expanding ranked-choice voting to governor and state Legislature races would violate the Maine Constitution, which requires winners to be determined by a plurality of votes.
- The court rejected arguments that ranked-choice voting constitutes a single vote with instructions, stating the Constitution does not allow counting additional votes or tabulations based on voter instructions.
- The ruling upheld a 2017 decision and distinguished Maine’s constitutional language from Alaska’s, where ranked-choice voting is allowed due to broader legislative authority over elections.
- Sen. Cameron Reny, sponsor of the expansion bill LD 1666, expressed disappointment but emphasized the importance of pursuing a more representative democracy as desired by Maine voters.
- The Maine Republican Party praised the decision, viewing it as a victory for preserving the state Constitution and opposing the expansion of ranked-choice voting.
.png?format=webp&w=120&h=80)
