The League of Women Voters of Maine congratulated election officials June 20 on completing the tabulation of the ranked choice results of the 2018 primary election.

"We commend the Office of the Secretary of State, as well as all the town clerks, wardens and poll workers, for rising to the challenge of implementing this new law in just three months time,” said Jill Ward, President of the League of Women Voters of Maine. “They went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure voters had a smooth experience and that the integrity of the election was maintained at every step.”

Maine is the first state in the nation to have a statewide election using RCV.

"We also congratulate Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Janet Mills and Democratic Congressional nominee Jared Golden, as well as Republican Gubernatorial nominee Shawn Moody and State House candidate Joshua Morris, for their nominations. Every candidate can be proud of his or her role in this historic election," added Ward.

Ranked choice voting will be used in the races for U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress in November 2018. Election officials will be able to build on this first successful election to refine procedures for voter education, voting, and tabulation.

Last week the League of Women Voters released the results of a survey showing that 90% of Maine voters had a positive experience using Ranked Choice Voting.

For the last six months the League of Women Voters of Maine Education Fund has been conducting a public education project, "Maine Uses Ranked Choice Voting," for the purpose of educating voters and others involved in the June election. Learn more about RCV at Maine Uses RCV's website: www.mainerankedchoice.vote. Please also visit www.LWVME.org and www.mainecleanelections.org for information about the organizations behind this project.