Maine residents will vote on ranked-choice system

This November Maine voters will choose whether to adopt the ranked-choice system of voting, in which voters can rank candidates by preference rather than choose just one. 

Ranked voting comes into play when there are three or more candidates for one seat, and no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. The candidate with the least number of first-choice votes is dropped from the race and votes are then recounted using second-choice votes. This continues until one candidate has over 50% of the vote.

Supporters of ranked choice voting argue that it provides more choices for voters. It can encourage more diverse and third party candidates to run, since there is less concern about such candidates "spoiling" or splitting the vote for a front-runner. Supporters also argue ranked choice voting reduces negative campaigning by encouraging each candidate to gather as many positive votes as possible, not take down opponents. 

Opponents of ranked choice voting argue that it is confusing to voters. This doesn't just make voting difficult - it can also lead to a higher number of ballots with errors that cannot be counted. Also, if a voter only chooses one candidate, and that candidate is eliminated, that voter's ballot is essentially ignored. One alternative to ranked choice voting is the "top two primary" system, in which every candidate runs in the primary, and the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, run in the general election.

UPDATE: Read our Citizen Voices℠ report and find out where New Hampshire stands on this issue.