© 2024 Maine Public | Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 22-3171529
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Scroll down to see all available streams.

Maine Proposes Emergency Rules For Ranked Choice Voting

Maine election officials have submitted proposed rules for the first use of ranked-choice voting in statewide primary elections in June.

The emergency rules posted Wednesday cover everything from the ballot layout to security. Notably absent is any sort of timetable for declaring winners. Election officials have said it could take a week or more if there's no clear majority winner.

The secretary of state is accepting public comments through April 6.

The system lets voters rank candidates from first to last. If there's no majority winner, then the last-place candidate is eliminated and there are further tabulations.

Supporters collected enough signatures to stop a legislative delay. A People's Veto vote determining the future of ranked choice voting will be held on the same day it's used in the primary elections.