Updated
Updated · WGME · Jun 11
Maine Delays 3 Primary Results Until June 19 as Ranked-Choice Count Starts Friday
Updated
Updated · WGME · Jun 11

Maine Delays 3 Primary Results Until June 19 as Ranked-Choice Count Starts Friday

3 articles · Updated · WGME · Jun 11

Summary

  • June 19 is Maine’s target to finish ranked-choice tabulation in three unresolved primaries — governor on both party ballots and the 2nd Congressional District race.
  • Friday at 1 p.m. the count begins in Augusta after law enforcement moves ballots from nearly 500 towns to a secure site and officials complete days of data uploads.
  • No candidate cleared 50%, triggering the runoff process; Democrat Nirav Shah holds a narrow first-round lead, while Republican Bobby Charles leads more comfortably.
  • CD2 also remains unsettled, with the eventual nominee set to face former Gov. Paul LePage in the fall.
  • Maine used the same public ranked-choice process in 2024, when Austin Theriault’s recount ended with Jared Golden winning the CD2 race by less than 1%.

Insights

How does a state maintain voter trust when using two different election systems simultaneously?
Can ranked-choice voting backfire by electing a more polarizing candidate over a consensus choice?