Maine Senate accepts majority "ought not to pass" recommendation after debate on ranked‑choice voting

The Maine Senate on March 25, 2025, voted 20‑14 to accept the majority "ought not to pass" recommendation on item 5‑1 after floor debate concerning ranked‑choice voting. The motion to accept the majority recommendation was made from the floor and carried on a roll call.

The decision came after senators exchanged arguments for and against keeping or revising the state's ranked‑choice voting system. The debate focused on whether the method is confusing to voters, whether it delays results, and on the weight the Legislature should give to prior statewide votes approving ranked‑choice voting.

Senator Hickman, the senator from Kennebec who moved acceptance of the report, described the committee recommendation on the floor as the motion before the body. In explaining how often voters had…