Maine’s ranked-choice system could decide the Senate under a hot spotlight
If the U.S. Senate race between U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson is close, the country may wait days to learn whether it is headed to a ranked-choice count and a week or more to learn who won. Only first choices are counted on election night, and blank ballots and write-in votes can keep a candidate short of the majority needed to win outright. If that happens, Maine would hold its first statewide ranked-choice count in a general election. Decision Desk HQ, the Bangor Daily News’ election results partner, rates Maine’s race as the closest Senate contest in the country. It gives Jackson a 54% chance of winning in what it projects as an effectively even vote split. It gives Democrats a 56% chance of taking the Senate. The closer the race, the more blank ballots and write-ins could matter. A count would put Maine’s unusual election process in front of national media, party…
