An Act to Repeal the National Popular Vote Compact
Summary
LD 1373 repeals Maine’s National Popular Vote for President Act, which is the state law implementing Maine’s participation in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. The bill removes the statutory framework that would have directed Maine’s presidential electors to support the presidential ticket receiving the most votes nationally if the compact is in effect. In doing so, it also makes conforming changes to related election provisions so the state’s presidential elector selection rules remain internally consistent.
The bill revises several election statutes tied to ranked-choice voting and presidential elector certification. It deletes references that would have applied if the compact governed presidential elections, and it restores the ordinary state-law approach under which Maine’s electors are allocated based on Maine’s own vote totals, including by congressional district where applicable. The measure also repeals sections added in 2023 that were specifically tied to the compact’s operation.
Impact
If enacted, LD 1373 would remove Maine from the legal path established for participation in the National Popular Vote Compact and would eliminate statutory language that could have shifted Maine’s presidential electors to the national popular vote winner. It would affect Maine election law by repealing compact-related provisions and updating cross-references in the ranked-choice voting and elector-certification statutes. The practical effect would be to preserve Maine’s existing presidential elector selection rules rather than allowing them to be triggered by the compact.
Sentiment
Based on the bill title and the sponsor/cosponsor lineup, the measure appears to reflect support among legislators who oppose the National Popular Vote Compact and want Maine to withdraw from that arrangement. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no recorded debate or roll-call evidence here to show broader legislative sentiment. The available context suggests the bill is politically charged and likely aligned with a faction favoring state control over presidential elector selection.
Contention
The central point of contention is the National Popular Vote Compact itself: supporters of repeal likely view it as an improper or undesirable transfer of influence away from Maine’s own voters and electoral system, while opponents would likely argue that the compact is a legitimate way to ensure the national popular vote winner becomes president. Another likely issue is whether Maine should continue using its current district-based allocation structure for electors or adopt a system tied to the national vote if the compact takes effect. Because no hearing transcript is included, the specific arguments and named opponents are not available.
Repeals authorizing Rhode Island to join an interstate compact, which would allow Presidents and Vice Presidents to be elected by a national popular vote rather than the electoral college.