[EL] Maine -- Failed plurality voting system strikes again

[Rob Richie]

Certain states make the problem of plurality voting as clear as day. Maine
certainly is one of them.

As Rick passes on below, Politico has a story story on how Maine Democrats
may not field a strong candidate if Angus King runs as an independent --
namely, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree may not run. That's not because they
prefer King to having Pingree. It's because plurality voting is too often
dysfunctional when more than two candidates run.

Maine Democrats are rather chastened from what happened in 2010, when their
gubernatorial nominee clearly cost independent Eliot Cutler the governor's
race. Indeed, we had 14 US Senate and governor's races won with less than
50% in 2010 -- see rundown here:
http://www.fairvote.org/from-the-non-majority-rule-desk-post-election-wrap-up-irv-in-oakland-and-looking-to-201<http://www.fairvote.org/from-the-non-majority-rule-desk-post-election-wrap-up-irv-in-oakland-and-looking-to-201#.T1Z5Cocgdmg>

This year, only a single GOP nomination contest to date (Nevada, where
Romney had 50.1%) has  been won with a majority of the vote. And we just
may see five current or former Members of Congress on the November ballot
for president in most states (the nominees for the Democrats, Republicans,
Libertarians, Americans Elect and Constitution Party).

Maine's largest city of Portland last year showcased one alternative --
ranked choice voting. See coverage here
http://www.fairvote.org/ranked-choice-voting-in-portland<http://www.fairvote.org/ranked-choice-voting-in-portland#.T1Z2ZYcgdmh>

- Rob Richie

####“ <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31064>

Angus King entrance shakes up Maine Senate
race”<http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31064>
Posted on March 6, 2012 7:45 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=31064> by Rick
Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

*Politico* <http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73649.html>: “The
independent Senate candidacy of former Maine Gov. Angus King is having a
chilling effect on the potential bid of Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree.”

If King runs, there will be no runoff: it will be a three-person race with
a plurality winner.

And King could be King: if the Senate is almost evenly divided, would he
caucus with Republicans, or Democrats?


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Rob Richie
Executive Director

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