Justice For Third Parties in Maine

U.S. District Court Strikes Down Maine's Restrictive Ballot Access Rules

Tito Ttexidor Unsplash

The political culture in Maine is opening up. Maine is a national leader in rank choice voting but RCV does not apply to state and local elections due to the wording in the Constitution. Before RCV can be instituted in state and local elections, the language in the Maine Constitution must be changed from “majority” to “plurality”. However, Constitutional amendments must be initiated in the political body that is most affected by changes in our electoral process:

Maine Constitution, Article IV
Section 4.  Amendments to Constitution.  The Legislature, whenever 2/3 of both Houses shall deem it necessary, may propose amendments to this Constitution; and when any amendments shall be so agreed upon, a resolution shall be passed and sent to the selectmen of the several towns,………..

Section 15. Constitutional conventions. The Legislature shall, by a 2/3 concurrent vote of both branches, have the power to call constitutional conventions, for the purpose of amending this Cons…