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Maine's Golden is lone Democrat to vote down COVID-19 bill
Read full article: Maine's Golden is lone Democrat to vote down COVID-19 billGolden was the only Democrat lawmaker to break with his party and vote against the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Rep. Jared Golden, who has represented Maine's 2nd Congressional District since 2019, was the only lawmaker from either party to break ranks on the bill. AdThe only other Democrat to oppose the relief bill in its first time through the House was Kurt Schrader of Oregon. It was the sole congressional district in New England to support President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Lewiston is about 35 miles north of Portland, the largest city in the state and the heart of the very liberal 1st Congressional District.
Maine's ranked choice voting rules and procedures, explained
Read full article: Maine's ranked choice voting rules and procedures, explainedMaine's use of ranked voting comes as Alaska and Massachusetts voters consider statewide votes to adopt the voting method. Ranked voting arrives on Maine’s presidential ballots in a year when three of the state’s four electoral votes could be up for grabs. ___HOW WE GOT HEREVoters in the state approved the adoption of ranked voting in a 2016 referendum drive. Opponents, including the Maine Republican Party, have said ranked choice voting is too confusing and violates the principle of one person, one vote. They sued unsuccessfully to try to stop the state from using ranked choice voting for president this year.
Ranked voting in Maine a go for presidential election
Read full article: Ranked voting in Maine a go for presidential electionPORTLAND, Maine – Ranked choice voting will be used for the first time in a presidential race under a ruling Tuesday by the Maine Supreme Court, which concluded a GOP petition drive came up short. Under the voting system, voters are allowed to rank all five candidates on the ballot. Supporters say the voting system eliminates the impact of so-called “spoiler candidates” and produces a majority winner. The constitutionality of the voting system has been twice upheld by a federal judge in Maine. But ranked voting is not used in the governor’s race or legislative contests because it runs afoul of the Maine Constitution.