Maine Could Split Its Electoral Vote

[seemslikeadream]

By DAVID SHARP
Associated Press Writer

October 12, 2004, 2:15 PM EDT


PORTLAND, Maine -- People who live here say there are two different Maines -- the liberal, populous and wealthy southern coast and the conservative, sparsely populated and poorer north.

Those different Maines could split its four electoral votes by awarding one candidate three votes and the other candidate the one remaining. That lone electoral vote could determine the election: in 2000, George W. Bush defeated Al Gore 271-266, barely collecting the 270 electoral votes required for victory.

Under state law, Maine awards two electoral votes to the statewide winner and one apiece to the winner in each of its congressional districts. The state has not split its electoral votes since adopting that system in 1969.

Four years ago, Gore won 49 percent of the statewide vote to 44 percent for Bush. In the southern 1st District, Gore won by a comfortable 27,675 votes. To the north, though, he won by only 5,660 votes in the 2nd District.
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http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-maine-voting,0,5919464.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[jpak]

1. Who determines how the votes are split????

The Governor? The Legislature???? The Electors????

[Salviati]

2. The vote is split thusly:

Under state law, Maine awards two electoral votes to the statewide winner and one apiece to the winner in each of its congressional districts. The state has not split its electoral votes since adopting that system in 1969.

[Yunaleska]

5. Read the constitution

It's pretty clear.

The legislature will decide how. Right now every state legislature has decided it will choose electors based on a state wide popular vote.

Ultimately, however, it is up to each INDIVIDUAL elector as to how to vote in many states. If a state went 100% kerry an elector could still vote for bush. Some states have laws against this, however, yet I don't believe any of them have been tested before the courts.

[genius]

3. This would be bad

[MaineDem]

4. We're working like hell to see that it doesn't happen

I'm confident that Kerry will take all 4 votes but we can't take anything for granted.

[sendero]

6. Yet another reason..

... the electoral college system needs to be abandoned. It is an archaic anomoly that serves no useful purpose, especially when random states can start playing games with the votes.