Ranked Choice Voting upheld- Congressman Elect Jarod Golden election is upheld

National News about voters victory in Maine's Second District and the election of Congressman Elect Jarod Golden in the Ranked Choice Voting process. 

Press release from the League of Women Voters of Maine!

Victory for the voters!

This morning, a federal court judge rejected Bruce Poliquin's legal challenge to ranked choice voting. The decision marks a major victory for Maine's voting system of choice, as well as for the people and states interested in following in Maine's footsteps in implementing a fairer election process.

Below are a selection of statements from the court's ruling (full version here): 

• "Maine's RCV (Ranked Choice Voting) Act reflects the view of a majority of the voting public in Maine, that their interests may be better represented by the candidate who achieves the greatest support among those who cast votes, than by the candidate who is first "past the post" in a plurality election dominated by two major parties." (Page 16)
• "The point is that "one person, one vote" does not stand in opposition to ranked balloting, so long as all electors are treated equally at the ballot." (Page 21)
• "Through RCV, as applied to the Second District house race, majority rights have been advanced, and no minority rights have been burdened unduly, if at all." (Page 24)

Plaintiffs maintain the right to appeal the court's decision; in addition, the manual recount of ranked choice votes, requested by and paid for by Poliquin, will continue. 

There is confidence in the constitutionality of ranked choice voting and that a recount will only affirm the accuracy of the original tally.

Best, 

 
Jill Ward, President, League of Women Voters of Maine