LEWISTON, Maine (AP) A former Republican congressman who lost the country’s first federal ranked-choice voting race is advocating against the expansion of its use.
Former Rep. Bruce Poliquin of Maine lost to current Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, last year. The ranked-choice voting method allows voters to pick a second choice if their favorite loses. The reapportionment of votes allowed Golden to defeat Poliquin in a close race.
The Sun Journal reports Poliquin has called on a Massachusetts legislative committee to reject the adoption of ranked-choice voting in that state. He said the system leads to “broken promises, confusion and voter fraud.”
At least a dozen states are looking to switch to the ranked-choice system, which Maine adopted in a public 2016 vote. Only Maine uses it in state and federal elections.
