AUGUSTA — Today, Open Primaries Maine announced that dozens of former legislators have endorsed L.D. 231, the semi-open primaries bill sponsored by Sen. Chloe Maxmin, D-Lincoln.

Under current Maine law, the 32% of Maine voters who are unenrolled — often referred to as independent — are prohibited from participating in taxpayer funded primary elections.

L.D. 231 would allow semi-open primaries, meaning these unenrolled voters would be permitted to cast one ballot in the primary of their choice.

Republicans would not be able to vote in Democratic primaries and Democrats would not be able to vote in Republican primaries.

Maine is one of just 14 states with completely closed primaries, and 80% of Maine voters support semi-open primaries, according to a news release. 

“For so many Mainers, being an independent is a key part of their political identity,” said Sen. Maxmin. “But primaries are important parts of our political process that these voters are currently shut out of. Many races are effectively decided in the primary, and even though unenrolled voters can’t participate, they still fund these elections with their tax dollars. I’ve heard from so many of my constituents that our current political system isn’t working for them and isn’t hearing their voices. This bill would make some of the necessary changes to get our politics back on track.”

Former Lawmakers for Semi-Open Primaries

Kent Ackley (I-Monmouth), former State Representative

Anne “Pinny” Beebe-Center (D-Rockland), former State Representative

Owen Casas (I-Rockport), former State Representative, former Rockport Select Board, Vice Chair

Justin Chenette (D-Saco), former State Senator, former State Representative

Dennis Damon (D-Hancock), former State Senator, former County Commissioner

Jill Goldthwait (I-Hancock), former State Senator, current Town Councilor

Donna Finley (R-Skowhegan), former State Representative

Stacey Fitts (R-Pittsfield), former State Representative,

Jayne Crosby Giles (R-Belfast), former State Representative

Geoff Gratwick (D-Penobscot), former State Senator, former City Councilor

Skip Greenlaw (D-Stonington), former State Representative, former School Board member

Marty Grohman (I-Biddeford), former State Representative and former candidate for U.S. Congress

Roger Katz (R-Kennebec), former State Senator and former Mayor of Augusta

Marge Kilkelly (D-Dresden), former State Senator, former State Representative

Walter Kumiega (D-Deer Isle), former State Representative, former school board member

Brian Langley (R-Hancock), former State Senator, former State Representative

District Attorney Maeghan Maloney (D-Kennebec & Somerset), former State Representative

Joyce Maker (R-Washington), former State Senator, former State Representative, former town councilor, former school board member

Peter Mills (Somerset), former State Senator, former Rebublican candidate for Governor

John Nutting (D-Androscoggin), former State Senator, former candidate for U.S. Congress

Leila Percy (D-Harpswell), former State Representative

Wendy Pieh (D-Bremen), former State Representative

Kevin Raye (R-Washington), former Senate President, former candidate for U.S. Congress

Richard Rosen (R-Hancock), former State Senator, former State Representative, former candidate for U.S. Congress

Christine Savage (R-Knox), former State Senator, former State Representative, former member of Union selectboard

Richard Spencer (D), former State Representative

Meredith Strang Burgess (R-Cumberland), former State Representative

Ed Suslovic (D-Portland), former State Representative, former City Councilor & Mayor of Portland

Dianne Tilton (R-Harrington), former State Representative

Karl Turner (Cumberland), former State Senator, former Falmouth Town Councilor

Jim Wilfong (D-Stow), former State Representative, current member of the Stow Select Board

Dick Woodbury (I-Yarmouth), former State Senator, former State Representative