Senate Republicans reject Legislative fix to ranked-choice voting

AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate voted 17-17 to reject a Joint Order from Sen. Mike Carpenter, D-Houlton, directing the Legislature’s Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs to report out a bill to implement all primary, general and special elections in 2018, including ranked-choice voting contests. Sen. Tom Saviello joined Senate Democrats in supporting this Joint Order; Sen. Dawn Hill, D-Cape Neddick, was absent.

“We have offered a fix to the concerns raised by Senate Republicans even though we believe that the Secretary of State has the authority,” said Sen. Carpenter.

The Joint Order sought to address concerns voiced by the Senate President over the implementation of ranked-choice voting through the appropriate legislative channels. This Joint Order was another one of many Democratic attempts to implement ranked-choice voting in Maine.

“Although I was not a supporter of ranked-choice voting at the outset, the Legislature now has a responsibility to implement the law and respect the will of the voters,” said Sen. Carpenter. “While I did not agree with the concerns expressed by the Senate President and his Republican colleagues earlier this week, I believe the best way to address these concerns is through the Legislative process. I am deeply disappointed in the majority of my Republican colleagues for refusing to do this the right way.”

“It is plain and simple – the law grants the Secretary of State full authority to conduct elections. As the lead Senate Democrat on the Legislature’s Committee on Veteran and Legal Affairs – the Committee that deals with elections – I have not seen any evidence to suggest that the Secretary of State is not operating within the authority granted to him,” said Sen. Carpenter.

Earlier this week, the Maine Senate voted 21-13 to pass an unprecedented Senate Order at the behest of the Senate President and Senate Republicans due to concerns that they raised regarding the implementation of ranked-choice voting. Many of these concerns could have been addressed through previous Legislative proposals that Republican lawmakers opposed. It is not clear that the Senate has the authority to pursue legal action as only half of the Legislative branch of government.

“It is important to remember that the Senate is not the entire Legislature. If we are going to take action on this matter, we need to do so with the tools available. I believe the actions by the Senate on Monday to bring suit sets a dangerous precedent for the future,” said Sen. Carpenter.

On Tuesday, the Senate President filed a suit against the Secretary of State without briefing the entire Senate body. A judge held a brief hearing yesterday and will decide whether or not the case can go forward shortly.

“Republican or Democrat – I defend what the Secretary of State is obliged to do. I don’t want to jeopardize that person’s ability to carry out elections in the state,” said Bill Diamond, D-Windham, former Secretary of State. “I worry that not passing this order would constitute an erosion of the Secretary’s long-time authority.”

As of now, the Joint Order is dead.

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