An Act To Modify Ranked-Choice Voting With Regard To Candidates Who Withdraw From An Election

This bill modifies Maine's ranked-choice voting rules for elections where a candidate withdraws but remains on the ballot. It requires that any vote for a withdrawn candidate in a ranked-choice election be automatically transferred to the voter's next available choice in every round, rather than being exhausted. This change directly affects voters who ranked a withdrawn candidate and election officials administering ranked-choice elections, ensuring ballots continue counting toward active candidates without manual intervention. The policy change applies specifically to candidates who withdraw under Maine election law but whose names stay on the ballot.