Maine has decided to join an interstate compact that would delegate its presidential electors to the winner of the national popular vote. With this move, Maine becomes the latest state to join the proposed pact, with 16 states and Washington, D.C. already on board. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills stated that “the person who wins the most votes should become the president,” and believes that failing to do so goes against the democratic foundations of the country. The compact would allocate all of a state’s electoral votes to the national popular vote winner, regardless of individual state election results.
Despite acknowledging that there are differing views on the matter, Governor Mills allowed the proposal to become law without her signature. Opponents argue that small states like Maine could lose their importance if the electoral college system is eliminated, while proponents point out that two out of the last four presidents were elected through the electoral college despite losing the national popular vote. Governor Mills, without a ranked voting system, believes that the candidate with the most votes should win the presidential election, aligning with the democratic values of the nation.
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact currently has a total of 209 electoral votes pledged, with 270 needed for it to take effect. The compact is not set to play a role in the upcoming November election. One of the main obstacles facing the compact is whether congressional approval is needed for its implementation. Maine, a state that splits its electoral votes, is one of only two states with this system. In 2016, Maine split its electoral votes for the first time when Donald Trump won one vote in the northern, conservative 2nd Congressional District. Trump repeated this in the 2020 election.
The debate within Maine over the compact largely followed party lines, with Republicans uniting in opposition to it. However, Governor Mills expressed her decision to let the bill become law without her signature in order to allow the important nationwide debate to continue. Supporters of the compact believe that the country should elect presidents based on the national popular vote, while opponents are concerned about the implications for small states and the potential changes to the electoral college system. The decision to join the compact indicates Maine’s commitment to reevaluating the electoral process and ensuring that the will of the majority is reflected in the election of the president.
