Maine High Court Blocks Plan to Expand Ranked-Choice Voting

A proposal to expand ranked-choice voting in Maine is facing a major hurdle after the state’s highest court ruled the plan would violate the Maine Constitution.

According to WGME, the Democratic-backed bill aimed to expand ranked-choice voting to races for governor and the Maine Legislature. Currently, ranked-choice voting is used in general elections for Congress and in primary elections for both state and federal offices.

In a Monday advisory opinion, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court said expanding ranked-choice voting to those additional races would conflict with constitutional language requiring certain offices to be decided by a plurality.

A plurality means the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not receive more than 50 percent. Ranked-choice voting, on the other hand, is designed to ensure a candidate eventually wins with a majority after multiple rounds of vote counting, the news station reported.

The court’s opinion does not automatically stop lawmakers from pursuing changes, but it signals that expanding ranked-choice voting to those races would likely require a constitutional amendment approved by voters.

Ranked-choice voting has been used in Maine for several years and has sparked ongoing debate among lawmakers and voters. Supporters say it ensures winners have broader support, while critics argue it complicates elections and delays results.

The ruling represents a significant setback for efforts to expand the system further in Maine.