Ranked Choice Voting Proposed for Maine
Rotary Clubs across Maine are opening their doors to former State Senator Dick Woodbury for presentations on Ranked Choice Voting; what it is, and why it matters. Last year, 73,000 Mainers signed petitions to place a nonpartisan citizen initiative for Ranked Choice Voting on the November 2016 ballot. If enacted by voters this fall, Ranked Choice Voting would be used to elect Maine’s Governor, U.S. Senators, U.S Representatives, State Senators and State Representatives beginning with the 2018 election.
Senator Woodbury noted the current lack of civility among candidates, a divisiveness that carries over into governing. He believes that ranked choice voting has the potential to improve the dynamics of voting in three areas: 1) lets voters vote for their preferred candidate vs strategic voting 2) avoids having a winner win with less than majority vote and 3) lets candidates and voters focus on policies and positions rather than "viability" of the candidate. He also believes that this could reduce negativity in campaigning and possibly lead to more candidates stepping forward.
Ranked choice voting is currently being used in cities like Oakland, Cambridge, Minneapolis and Portland ME. If approved by Maine voters, it would be the first statewide use of this voting process.
L-R: Adam Pontius - Coalition Coordinator, Deb Shangraw
Dick Woodbury - former Maine State Senator