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Signatures Pave Way for Ranked-Choice Voting in June

Signatures Pave Way for Ranked-Choice Voting in June

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)   Maine is set to become the first state to let voters rank candidates in a statewide primary election.

Democratic Secretary of State Matt Dunlap said Monday that enough signatures were collected to allow voters this June to decide whether Maine will also use the new system for federal elections in November.

Voters in June will vote on the future of ranked-choice system using the new voting method itself. Voters would rank ballot choices from first to last in the system that supporters say would ensure a winner gets a majority of the vote.

Voters approved the new system in 2016.

It has been scaled back for use in federal races and primary elections, but not gubernatorial or legislative races to avoid conflicts with the Maine Constitution.

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