Community discusses Maine's new ranked choice voting ordinance modeled after Cambridge

The Portland City Council held a workshop on March 24, 2025, to discuss the implementation of ranked choice voting in municipal elections. The meeting focused on clarifying the process and addressing community concerns regarding the voting system.

The discussion began with a council member acknowledging that there are differing opinions within the community about ranked choice voting. However, they emphasized that the current meeting was not intended to debate the merits of the voting system itself. Instead, the focus was on the material provided to the council and any questions that might arise from it.

A council member expressed curiosity about the origins of the ranked choice voting system adopted by the city. They inquired about how the system was selected and the timeline of its implementation. It was noted that the motion to create a proportional ranked choice voting ordinance was made in 2022, with the ordinance itself being adopted in September 2023. Despite its adoption, the system has yet to be utilized in any elections.

The council member further explained that the model for Portland's ranked choice voting was based on systems used in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Westbrook, Maine, which is the only other municipality in the state to implement ranked choice voting at the local level. This connection to existing systems was highlighted as a reason for Portland's decision to adopt the model.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for further questions from council members regarding the material presented. Overall, the workshop served to clarify the status and background of ranked choice voting in Portland, while also acknowledging the ongoing community dialogue surrounding the topic.