Why Maine’s Unique Voting System Could Decide the Next President

Confused by the Electoral College? I used to be as well. The short version is back when the U.S. was being formed, the founding fathers wanted a balance between the will of the people (the popular vote) and the power of the states. The Electoral College was their way of ensuring that smaller states still had a say in presidential elections, rather than being overshadowed by larger, more populated states.

Maine likes to do things a bit differently from time to time, and our electoral vote system is no exception. While most states play the "winner-takes-all" game in presidential elections, Maine is one of only two states, Nebraska being the other, that splits its electoral votes. It's called the Congressional District Method and here's how it works:

Maine has four electoral votes. Two of these go to the statewide winner, just like in every other state. But the other two? They’re based on who wins in each of Maine's two congressional districts. This means that it's possible for Maine to split its electoral votes between two different candidates.

So, why does this matter? In a close election, every electoral vote counts, and our system here in Maine could make a big difference. For example, if the race is tight and the candidates are neck and neck in Maine, a split could give one candidate that extra nudge they need to win the presidency. On the flip side, it could also keep a candidate from getting all the electoral votes they might expect.

So, when the election rolls around, if you feel strongly about one candidate or just want to make sure your vote counts for the "lesser of two evils", it's important to remember that this race is looking like it will be a close call and every vote matters.