Full Breakdown
Maine Supreme Court Rules Ranked-Choice Voting Expansion Unconstitutional
4/7/2026, 12:18:37 PM
Court's Advisory Opinion on LD 1666
On April 6, 2026, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously ruled that a proposed expansion of ranked-choice voting (RCV) to include elections for governor and the state Legislature would violate the Maine Constitution. This decision came in response to Legislative Bill LD 1666, which sought to redefine how votes are counted in these elections. The court's opinion emphasized that the Maine Constitution mandates that winners of state elections must be determined by a plurality of votes, meaning the candidate with the highest number of votes wins, rather than through a ranked-choice process that involves multiple rounds of tabulation.
Background on Ranked-Choice Voting in Maine
Ranked-choice voting was first adopted in Maine following a 2016 statewide referendum, making it the first state to implement this voting method for statewide elections. Under RCV, voters rank candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed until a candidate achieves a majority. Currently, RCV is utilized in federal elections and state primaries, but not in general elections for state offices due to previous court rulings.
Legislative and Public Reactions
Senator Cameron Reny, the sponsor of LD 1666, expressed disappointment in the court's ruling but emphasized the importance of the effort to uphold the will of Maine voters. "Maine voters made clear at the ballot box when they adopted ranked-choice voting that they want a stronger, more representative democracy," Reny stated. Conversely, Jim Deyermond, chair of the Maine Republican Party, welcomed the court's opinion, asserting that it preserved the integrity of the Maine Constitution and provided clarity against the expansion of RCV.
Criticism and Opposition
The ruling has drawn criticism from advocates of ranked-choice voting, including the League of Women Voters of Maine, which argued that RCV is lawful within the framework of the Maine Constitution. Chrissy Hart, the organization's executive director, stated, "RCV is the best method in Maine to elect candidates that receive broad support," and vowed to continue advocating for the system despite the court's decision. Tim Woodcock, an attorney representing the Republican parties, noted that the court's opinion provided clearer guidelines for the future of ranked-choice voting in Maine.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
While the court's ruling aligns with its previous advisory opinion from 2017, there remains a divide among lawmakers and advocacy groups regarding the interpretation of what constitutes a "vote" under the Maine Constitution. The court acknowledged that the constitution does not explicitly define "vote," but clarified that the term is understood through the established process of counting and declaring votes.
What's Next
The ruling effectively halts the progress of LD 1666, leaving proponents of ranked-choice voting to seek alternative legal avenues to implement their vision for a more representative electoral process in Maine. As the state approaches the 2026 elections, the debate over the use of ranked-choice voting is likely to continue, with advocates pushing for reforms that align with voter preferences.
