Independents Can Vote Today On Ranked Choice Referendum Question

Today is a primary election, but Mainers who are registered as independents are still encouraged to go to the polls and vote on a statewide referendum question.

This election day is usually reserved for registered Republicans and Democrats, as they vote for their favorite candidates, to narrow the field before the statewide election. Today, among other races, Mainers will be choosing from 11 candidates for the Governor's Office, and using the ranked choice voting system to do it.

In ranked choice voting, residents are asked to rate their top 3 choices for office, so that their vote can count, even if their top choice is eliminated. For example, let's say the candidates are A,B, and C. If someone votes for them, in that order, and A is eliminated for a lack of votes, the resident's ballot is not discarded, but rather counted for their second choice. So..in this case, the vote would count for candidate B. It's explained very well in an animated video from the Secretary of State's office.

Today, voters are being asked whether they want to delay the use of ranked choice voting. Here's how the referendum question will appear on the ballot:

Question 1: Do you want to reject the parts of a new law that would delay the use of ranked-choice voting in the election of candidates for any state or federal office until 2022, and then retain the method only if the constitution is amended by December 1, 2021, to allow ranked-choice voting for candidates in state elections?