Maine

On April 15, 2024, Maine became the 18th jurisdiction to enact the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact into law, as Governor Janet Mills let the bill passed by the legislature become law without her signature.

On April 3, 2024, the Maine Senate gave its final approval to the National Popular Vote bill, and sent the bill to Governor Janet Mills (status of LD1578).

  • Cong. Chellie Pingree says on Instagram: "I am so proud to see the Maine Legislature take this step to strengthen democracy. The National Popular Vote ensures one person = one vote."

On April 2, 2024, the Maine House gave its final approval to the National Popular Vote bill (status of LD1578). Maine House Speaker Talbot Ross (one of the bill's sponsors) presided over the vote.  The lead sponsor of the bill was Representative Arthur L. Bell. 

Speaker Talbot Ross presides over House vote on enactment on April 2, 2024

On March 13, 2024, the Maine Senate passed the National Popular Vote bill by a 22-13 vote (status of LD1578).

On March 5, 2024, the Maine House of Representatives passed the National Popular Vote bill by a 74-67 vote (status of LD1578).  The Maine House is the 43rd state legislative chamber to have passed the bill.  

In a February 2024 Pan-Atlantic Research poll, 72% of Maine voters support nationwide election of the President. Voters were asked:

Thinking about the way in which the president is elected in this country, which would you prefer?

  • Change the current system, so the candidate who receives the most total votes nationwide wins the election
  • Keep the current system, in which the candidate who wins the most votes in the Electoral College wins the election

The Maine poll had 791 respondents. In the Maine poll, 88% of the Democrats, 75% of the independents, and 51% of the Republicans supported changing the current system, so the candidate who receives the most total votes nationwide wins the election. By congressional district, 74% of first district residents and 70% of second district supported the change.  Moreover, 80% of the women, and 64% of the men supported the change. Among voters who call themselves "Very conservative" or "Conservative," support was 49%-51% in favor of the change. Among "Moderates," it was 71%-29%. Among Liberals, it was 91%-9%. Among "Very Liberals," it was 95%-5%. The question in the Maine poll was identical to the question used in the recent Pew national poll. 

On January 8, 2024, the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee held a public hearing on the National Popular Vote bill (status of LD1578). 

Rep. Arthur L. ​Bell, lead sponsor of National Popular Vote in Maine, addresses legislative committee on January 8, 2024

Former Vermont Sen. Christopher Pearson addresses Maine legislative committee on January 8, 2024

In 2023, the National Popular Vote bill (status of LD1578) was introduced by Representative Arthur L. Bell and cosponsored by

  • Representative Zager
  • Senator Pouliot
  • Representative Jauch,
  • Representative Supica
  • Speaker Talbot Ross
  • Representative Terry
  • Senator Daughtry
  • Senate President Troy Jackson
  • Senator Vitelli. 

Rep. Bell's 2023 bill was held over to the 2024 session of the legislature.

On June 17 and 19, 2019, the Maine House voted yet again on the National Popular Vote bill (status of LD 816), but defeated it.

On June 12, 2019, the Maine House passed the National Popular Vote bill 77-69 (status of LD 816).

  • AP story
  • WABI5 story entitled "After a rare tie in a House vote, Maine House passes bill to join national popular vote compact"

On June 10, 2019, the Maine Senate voted to insist that the House pass the National Popular Vote bill (status of LD 816), sending the bill back to the House for reconsideration.  

On May 30, 2019, the Maine House defeated a motion to accept the minority report (urging adoption) of the National Popular Vote bill (status of LD 816).  

  • Associated Press story "Maine lawmakers split on changing way president gets elected"

In a March 12-13, 2019 poll, when Maine voters were asked in a recent poll how the President should be elected, they responded"

  • 52% favored “a system where the candidate who gets the most popular votes in all 50 states is the winner.”
  • 31% favored “a system where electoral votes are given out by Congressional district” --- Maine’s current method for awarding 2 of its 4 electoral votes
  • 16% favored “a system where all the electoral votes in a given state are awarded to whoever gets the most popular votes in that state” --- the winner-take-all method currently used by 48 states and also currently used in Maine to award 2 of its 4 electoral votes 

68% of Democrats favored a national popular vote, compared to 20% or the congressional-district method, and 12% for the statewide winner-take-all method.

42% of Republican favored a national popular vote, compared to 40% for the congressional-district method, and 18% for the statewide winner-take-all method.

The percentages for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are shown below. 

 

Democrat

Republican

Independent

Overall

National popular vote

68%

42%

43%

52%

Congressional district method

20%

40%

36%

31%

Statewide winner-take-all method

12%

18%

20%

16%

 

The poll surveyed 633 registered voters in Maine and was conducted by Public Policy Polling on March 12-13, 2019.   Click here for written report and cross-tabs

    On May 14, 2019, the Maine Senate passed the National Popular Vote bill by a 19-16 vote (status of LD 816).  The bill now goes to the House.

    Maine Senator Chenette debates National Popular Vote bill on May 14, 2019

    On March 1, 2019, the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs held a public hearing on the National Popular Vote bill (status of LD 816). 

    Hearing on March 2, 2019 before Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs

    The National Popular Vote bill has been introduced in the Maine legislature by:

    • LD 816 is sponsored by Senate President JACKSON of Aroostook and cosponsored by Representative MARTIN of Eagle Lake and Senators: HERBIG of Waldo, LIBBY of Androscoggin, LUCHINI of Hancock, VITELLI of Sagadahoc, Representatives: FECTEAU of Biddeford, HICKMAN of Winthrop, MOONEN of Portland, SCHNECK of Bangor
    • LD 418 is sponsored by Representative RYKERSON of Kittery and cosponsored by Representatives: GROHOSKI of Ellsworth, ZEIGLER of Montville, Senator MIRAMANT of Knox, Senator CHENETTE of York and Representatives: ACKLEY of Monmouth, BEEBE-CENTER of Rockland, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, PLUECKER of Warren

    In January 2017, Representatives Deane Rykerson, Seth Berry, Lydia Blume, Janice Cooper, and Stanley Zeigler and Senators Shenna Bellows, Geoffrey Gratwick, and David Miramant introduced the National Popular Vote bill (Status of LD156). 

    On January 7, 2009, Representative John L. Martin introduced the National Popular Vote bill (LD 56).  While a member of Maine's House of Representatives in 1969, John Martin sponsored Maine’s current law governing the awarding of electoral votes. Under this 1969 legislation, two of Maine's electoral votes are awarded by congressional district, and two are awarded on a statewide basis. In 1992, Nebraska adopted legislation patterned after Maine's 1969 law. 

    On April 14, 2008, the Maine Senate passed the National Popular Vote bill (LD 744).

    On March 30, 2007, Senator John L. Martin sponsored the National Popular Vote bill ( LD 1744 ).  

    A survey of 800 Maine voters conducted on January 9-10, 2009 showed 77% overall support for a national popular vote for President. By political affiliation, support for a national popular vote was 85% among Democrats, 70% among Republicans, and 73% among others. By gender, support for a national popular vote was 82% among women and 71% among men. By age, support for a national popular vote was 79% among 18-29 year olds, 67% among 30-45 year olds, 78% among 46-65 year olds, and 82% for those older than 65. By congressional district, support for a national popular vote was 78% in the First congressional district and 76% in the Second district. By race, support for a national popular vote was 79% among whites (representing 94% of respondents) and 56% among others (representing 6% of respondents).

    In a follow-up question presenting a three-way choice among various methods of awarding Maine's electoral votes,

    • 71% favored a national popular vote;
    • 21% favored Maine's current system of awarding its electoral votes by congressional district; and
    • 8% favored the statewide winner-take-all system (i.e., awarding all of Maine's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most votes statewide).

    The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 1/2%.

    On February 2, 2010, the Maine House defeated the National Popular Vote bill.