Maine Senate Bill LD1666

Maine 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/17/25
• Refer: 4/17/25
• Engrossed: 6/10/25
• Enrolled: 6/11/25
• Passed: 6/18/25
• Failed: 4/29/26

Caption

An Act to Include in the Ranked-choice Election Method for General and Special Elections the Offices of Governor, State Senator and State Representative and to Make Other Related Changes

Summary

LD 1666 would expand Maine’s ranked-choice voting system to apply to general and special elections for Governor, State Senator, and State Representative. The bill also makes conforming changes throughout election law to align terminology and procedures with the expanded use of ranked-choice voting, including how ballots are marked, how election returns are reported, and how candidates are described in the counting process. Under the bill, these offices would be elected using ranked-choice tabulation rather than the current single-choice plurality method. The measure revises statutory definitions such as “ranking,” “round,” “continuing candidate,” and “last-place candidate,” and clarifies that in ranked-choice elections the winner is determined by plurality after the ranked-choice count is completed. It also updates instructions for election officials and reporting forms so they distinguish between ranked-choice elections and plurality elections, and it adjusts related nomination and write-in provisions to fit the new system.

Impact

The bill would significantly change Maine election administration by extending ranked-choice voting from its existing scope to include the state’s top executive and legislative offices in both general and special elections. It would require the Secretary of State and local election officials to use revised ballot instructions, reporting forms, and counting procedures, and it would alter several election-law provisions that currently assume single-choice voting for those offices. The bill also affects how votes are credited for party and nomination purposes in ranked-choice contests, while preserving plurality language for the final determination of winners after ranked-choice tabulation.

Sentiment

The voting history suggests the bill was highly contentious but ultimately advanced through narrow margins. Early votes on committee reports and floor action were close, and enactment passed by only a small number of votes, indicating a sharply divided legislature. The available record shows no committee transcript discussion, but the repeated close roll calls suggest strong support among ranked-choice voting proponents and equally strong resistance from opponents.

Contention

The main point of contention is the expansion of ranked-choice voting itself to gubernatorial and legislative races, which likely raises concerns about election complexity, voter understanding, administrative burden, and the legitimacy of changing long-standing election methods. Supporters appear to favor broader use of ranked-choice voting and the related cleanup of election statutes, while opponents likely object to replacing plurality elections for major state offices. The narrow votes on both report acceptance and enactment indicate that these disagreements were substantial and persistent.