Committee approves Sen. Maxmin bill to create semi-open primaries in Maine

AUGUSTA — On Friday, a bill from Sen. Chloe Maxmin, D-Nobleboro, that would create semi-open primaries in Maine was approved by the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. An amended version of LD 231, “An Act To Establish Open Primaries,” passed committee 8-3, with two committee members absent.

“I’m so grateful to the committee for taking this step forward into a more democratic future,” said Sen. Maxmin. “Maine has a strong political independent streak that we’re all proud of, but a side effect of that is hundreds of thousands of unenrolled voters have been excluded from the critical primary process. Many races are all but decided in the primary, and independent voters deserve a voice, especially since they pay for these elections with their tax dollars. This bill will make sure all Maine voters have their voices heard.”

In Maine, unenrolled voters comprise roughly one-third of all registered voters. Nationwide, 49 percent of veterans and 50 percent of millennial voters are unenrolled or consider themselves unaffiliated with either party. Under Maine’s current system, these voters are not allowed to vote in either party’s primary races unless they register with that party.

As amended, LD 231 would allow unenrolled voters to participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary each cycle, without changing their party affiliation. If a voter becomes unenrolled by withdrawing from a party, they may not participate in any primary for 15 days, unless they are also registering to vote at a new address. This aligns with current law regarding primary participation for voters switching parties. In addition, unenrolled voters who participate in a party’s primary must be considered party members for the purpose of allocating delegates to the party’s state convention or presidential nominating convention. If an unenrolled voter participates in a party primary, their participation will be tracked in the central voter registration system, as is done for party members.

The amendment further changes the bill title to “An Act to Create Semi-Open Primaries,” to better reflect the contents of the bill.

LD 231 is cosponsored by Democratic, Republican and independent members of the Legislature and has been endorsed by the League of Women Voters, Veterans for Political Innovation, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, and by the editorial boards of the Portland Press Herald, the Ellsworth American and the Mount Desert Islander.

LD 231 now faces votes in the Senate and the House.