Index
Civic & GovernmentMaine, USA

Maine Ranked-Choice Voting Law

Summary

Maine uses a 'ranked-choice' voting system for most state and federal elections, meaning voters rank candidates by preference rather than picking just one.

Rights & Rules

  • 01.
    On your ballot, you can rank candidates as your 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, and so on.
  • 02.
    If no candidate gets more than 50% of the 1st choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
  • 03.
    If your 1st choice is eliminated, your vote automatically transfers to your 2nd choice.
  • 04.
    This process repeats until one candidate receives a majority (over 50%) of the remaining votes.

Penalties

  • 01.
    If you only select one candidate and leave the rest blank, your ballot is still valid; however, if your candidate is eliminated, your ballot is 'exhausted' and doesn't transfer to anyone else.

Verified Citations

Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A, Section 723-A

Source
"Ranked-choice voting... means the method of casting and tabulating votes in which voters rank candidates in order of preference, tabulation proceeds in sequential rounds in which last-place candidates are defeated..."