Ranked choice voting is working in Maine. It can work everywhere else too

Key Points:

• Ranked choice voting (RCV) in Maine, adopted in 2016, has transitioned from a contentious reform to an accepted part of the state's political process, with candidates from both parties openly encouraging voters to rank their rivals.
• The reform was introduced to address issues from previous elections where candidates won without majority support, aiming to preserve Maine’s tradition of supporting independents and solving the spoiler problem.
• RCV has fostered coalition-building and less negative campaigning, as candidates must appeal not only as first choices but also as viable second choices, leading to strategic alliances across party lines.
• The change in Maine’s electoral system has influenced campaign strategies, with labor unions and advocacy groups promoting ranked endorsements, and voters finding the system easy to understand and use.
• Maine’s experience with RCV offers a hopeful example of how structural electoral reforms can improve democratic processes and become normalized, even amid broader national political challenges.