LD202 proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to implement ranked-choice voting in general elections for the offices of Governor, State Senator, and State representative.
The House failed to pass LD202 on June 8, 2021, by a vote of 77 to 65 (two-thirds vote required). We have assigned pluses to the nays because states should oppose all attempts to enact ranked-choice voting. This complicated, multiple-round, and unconstitutional method threatens election integrity by allowing a candidate to potentially win without genuine support from a plurality of voters. The scheme's ballot casting requirements not only undermine a citizen's right to vote, but could effectively force them to violate their conscience.
United States Constitution
Article IV Section 4
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
United States Constitution
14th Amendment Section 1
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
United States Constitution
26th Amendment Section 1
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
