The Gorham Times, Gorham, Maine's Community Newspaper

Staff Writer

When Gorham voters go to the polls on June 12, they will use ranked-choice voting to choose Republican and Democratic candidates for governor. Because Maine has a closed primary, voters must be registered in either of these two parties to vote in the State primary.

Voters who are unenrolled cannot vote for a candidate. Those enrolled as Green Independents or Libertarians also can not vote as neither party is running primary candidates. All voters will be able to vote on retaining the ranked-choice voting system and the school budget validation referendum.

Voters who are currently enrolled in a political party may change par- ties at the Town Clerk’s office until the end of the day on Friday, May 25. Voters who are unenrolled may enroll in a party up to and including Election Day, June 12, by filling out a new voter registration card. New voters and registered voters who have moved to Gorham from another municipality may enroll in a party at any time. Once enrolled in a new party, a voter must remain in that party for three months.

Seven candidates are running for governor in the Democratic primary: Adam Cote (Sanford), Donna Dion (Biddeford), Mark Dion (Portland), Mark Eves (North Berwick), Janet Mills (Farmington), Diane Russell (Portland), and Betsy Sweet (Hallowell).

The Republican Party will have four gubernatorial candidates: Kenneth Fredette (Newport), Shawn Moody (Gorham), Mary Mayhew (South China), and Garrett Mason (Lewiston).

Under the ranked-choice system, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes cast. When more than two candidates are running, voters will be able to rank their choices. If one candidates does not get more than 50% of the votes after the first count, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated. Voters who had ranked that eliminated candidate first would have their second choices added to the totals of those candidates they had ranked second. This would continue until one candidate has more than 50% of the votes.

In this election, Republicans will be able to rank four candidates while Democrats may rank seven candidates. Voters may rank as many as they chose, that is, they can vote for only one, rank all candidates, or chose to rank any number of candidates. By making more choices, voters are assured that their vote will be counted in the final tally.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that ranked-choice voting, which voters approved in a ballot initiative in 2016, does not violate the state constitution for primary elections, clearing the way for the system to be used in this election.

Registered voters may request absentee ballots by calling or visiting the Town Clerk’s office. Ballots will be mailed out after May 12.