PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 201

Citing the unique power of political parties to select nominees in a method they choose, party overwhelmingly rejects RCV, files suit in federal court

AUGUSTA – In a show of overwhelming opposition to the complicated and unworkable ranked choice voting scheme being forced upon Maine voters, the Maine Republican Party convention this morning voted to reject ranked choice voting in Republican primaries and return to plurality elections to choose their nominees.

“This is very simple,” said Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine Republican Party. “Our delegates, rules committee, state committee and candidates do not want to participate in this complicated and expensive system. We have a first amendment right to select our nominees the way we choose, and that will be in the traditional method. The winner with the most votes wins, and we will obey the principle of one man, one vote,” said Savage.

After Republican delegates passed the change to party rules at their biennial state convention, the party’s legal counsel filed a complaint in federal court to protect the party’s First Amendment rights.

“We feel the case law and precedent are clear, and that forcing Republicans to change the way we nominate our candidates is a clear violation of our First Amendment rights. We hope the court will expedite our request and act quickly to protect our right to select our nominee the way we choose,” said Mr. Savage.

From Presidential nominations to local and county offices, legally recognized political parties have a unique and well-established right to control their own nominating processes. 

Today’s action asserts that Republicans, in their official biennial rule-making process, object to the use of RCV in Republican primary elections and wish to continue choosing their nominees by traditional plurality elections.

You can read the letter from the Maine Republican Party Rules Committee here.