PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A state judge cleared the way for a GOP-led referendum aimed at nullifying ranked-choice voting in presidential races in Maine, meaning the voting system cannot be used in the presidential contest this November.
Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, a Democrat, contended the GOP didn’t meet the threshold for signatures for the ballot. After an appeal, a state judge ruled Monday evening that the referendum can proceed, and the voting system cannot be used in a presidential contest until Maine voters have the final say.
“The fight to repeal ranked-choice voting marches on, and we remain laser-focused on winning in November,” said Demi Kouzounas, chair of the Maine Republican Party.
The timing of the decision by Superior Court Justice Thomas McKeon leaves little recourse for further appeal. The deadline necessary for he printing ballots is Friday. Dunlap said Tuesday the ruling is being reviewed.
The voting system approved by Maine voters in 2016 allows people to rank candidates from first to last on the ballot.
A candidate who reaches 50% or more in the first round of voting is declared the winner. If there’s no majority, then there are additional tabulations, aided by computers, in which last-place finishers are eliminated and those voters’ second choices are reallocated to the remaining field.
A federal judge earlier this month upheld the constitutionality of the voting system for use in the November election. It was the second time the judge upheld the voting system.
Because the voting system runs afoul of the Maine Constitution, it is used in federal races but not in the governor’s race or legislative contests. State lawmakers took further action to ensure it’s used in presidential elections.
