In Maine, elections employing ranked-choice voting (RCV) tabulate outcomes by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate secures a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the second-choice preference indicated on those ballots. This process continues until a candidate achieves a majority. For example, in a three-candidate race, if Candidate A receives 40% of first-choice votes, Candidate B receives 35%, and Candidate C receives 25%, Candidate C is eliminated. Ballots that listed C as the first choice are then re-examined, and the second-choice preferences on those ballots are added to the totals of the remaining candidates. This continues until one candidate has more than 50% of the votes.
This system aims to elect candidates with broader appeal and reduce the impact of “spoiler” candidates who split the vote. Historically, Maine became the first state to adopt RCV for federal elections, and its implementation has garnered significant national attention, serving as a case study for other jurisdictions considering electoral reform. The outcomes of these elections offer insights into voter behavior under RCV and the potential effects on political representation.
