Maine upset by Trump’s ballot access and ranked choice rebellion on Super Tuesday
Maine’s Unique Presidential Primary
Maine is one of two Super Tuesday states where voters may face a unique situation – they may not ultimately be allowed to vote for former President Donald Trump. Along with Colorado’s Supreme Court, Maine’s elected officials have determined that Trump is ineligible for Tuesday’s ballot, citing the 14th Amendment clause barring those who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding federal office.
However, there’s an added wrinkle to the situation. Maine approved ranked choice voting for its elections in 2016, yet the state’s Republican Party has officially said it won’t recognize election results using that system. This has created a complex scenario for the upcoming primary.
The Role of Maine Secretary of State
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, ruled in December that Trump could not appear on the ballot due to the 14th Amendment. However, that decision has been stayed pending action by the Supreme Court, which will make a final determination as soon as Monday. As a result, Trump’s name is currently on the ballot and has been since early voting began on February 5.
The state GOP has reminded its voters of this fact, urging them to go out and vote. However, if Trump’s name is later removed, the Secretary of State’s office has stated that votes for him “would simply be treated as blanks.”
The Controversy Surrounding Ranked Choice Voting
Republicans are generally skeptical of ranked choice voting, which involves dropping lower-performing candidates from the results and adding their voters’ second choices to the tabulations. This process continues until the top candidate surpasses 50% and is declared the winner. Ranked choice ballots offer voters the chance to pick second and third choices.
Interestingly, Trump’s legal team has praised Maine’s ranked choice voting system, arguing that it eliminates any harm if Trump is ultimately disqualified. They believe that if the Supreme Court finds against Trump, Maine officials can retabulate the ranked choice ballots to determine the winner by considering the second and subsequent choice candidates.
The State GOP’s Stance
Maine’s state GOP has long stated that it will not recognize ranked choice voting and will only tabulate first-choice ballots. The Secretary of State’s office supports this stance, as it is the ultimate decider of delegates to the Republican National Convention.
State GOP chairman Joel Stetkis believes that the Supreme Court will keep Trump’s name on the ballot. However, he also alluded to the party’s flexibility at the nominating convention, indicating that they will take whatever steps necessary to ensure their voters can vote for the person they legally choose.
Outrage and Disenfranchisement
Other Republicans, including Senator Tommy Tuberville, have expressed outrage at the decisions made in Maine and Colorado. They argue that removing Trump from the ballots undermines democracy and disenfranchises voters.
Despite the controversy, Maine opened early voting on February 5 and will begin tabulating ballots on the night of March 5. Polls indicate that Trump is leading in Maine’s Republican Primary, with a significant margin over other candidates, including Nikki Haley. Trump is also leading President Joe Biden in some polling.
How might the current situation in Maine’s presidential primary impact the final results and the voters’ perception of the election process
Maine’s Unique Presidential Primary
Maine is one of two Super Tuesday states where voters may face a unique situation – they may not ultimately be allowed to vote for former President Donald Trump. Along with Colorado’s Supreme Court, Maine’s elected officials have determined that Trump is ineligible for Tuesday’s ballot, citing the 14th Amendment clause barring those who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding federal office.
However, there’s an added wrinkle to the situation. Maine approved ranked choice voting for its elections in 2016, yet the state’s Republican Party has officially said it won’t recognize election results using that system. This has created a complex scenario for the upcoming primary.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, ruled in December that Trump could not appear on the ballot due to the 14th Amendment. However, that decision has been stayed pending action by the Supreme Court, which will make a final determination as soon as Monday. As a result, Trump’s name is currently on the ballot and has been since early voting began on February 5.
The state GOP has reminded its voters of this fact, urging them to go out and vote. However, if Trump’s name is later removed, the Secretary of State’s office has stated that votes for him “would simply be treated as blanks.”
The controversy surrounding ranked choice voting further complicates matters. The Republican Party’s refusal to recognize election results using this system adds another layer of uncertainty and potential disputes. With ranked choice voting, voters rank their preferred candidates in order, and if no candidate receives a majority in the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates. This continues until a candidate receives a majority of the votes.
The unique situation in Maine’s presidential primary raises questions about the application of the 14th Amendment, the role of the Secretary of State, and the implications of ranked choice voting. As the Supreme Court’s final decision looms, voters and political observers are closely watching how this situation will unfold and its potential impact on the primary results.
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