Election Center

Ranked-choice voting has not produced what we were promised

Lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on Wednesday considered a bill...

Alternative view: National Popular Vote would amplify Maine voices and empower small states

Any Mainer interested in amplifying the state’s role in electing a president, and...

In Maine, National Popular Vote makes your vote meaningless

There is no doubt that our Founding Fathers feared tyranny of the majority,...

Jared Golden Did Not Win 50 Percent of the Vote

Jared Golden did not receive more than 50 percent of the vote after...

Maine voters reject Question 1

After a yearlong campaign of misinformation waged by the supporters of Question 1,...

One last veto: Gov. LePage blocks bill to fund ranked-choice voting for November elections

Dear Honorable Members of the 128th Legislature: Under the authority vested in me...

Maine’s ballot initiative process serves outside interests, not Maine people.

Today the Maine Heritage Policy Center released its newest report, “The Will of...

Maine Policy Discussion: Ken Fredette

The Maine Heritage Policy Center is sitting down for detailed policy discussions with...

Maine Policy Discussion: Shawn Moody

The Maine Heritage Policy Center is sitting down for detailed policy discussions with...

Maine Policy Discussion: Garrett Mason

The Maine Heritage Policy Center is sitting down for detailed policy discussions with...

Maine Policy Discussion: Donna Dion

The Maine Heritage Policy Center is sitting down for detailed policy discussions with...

Maine Policy Discussion: Mary Mayhew

The Maine Heritage Policy Center is sitting down for detailed policy discussions with...

Thanks to ranked-choice voting, expect a spike in spoiled ballots

Advocates of ranked-choice voting (RCV) commonly claim that their preferred method of deciding...

Maine has a ranked-choice disaster on its hands

Yesterday, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced that “ranked-choice voting can’t occur...

How taxpayers can win from Clean Election reform

When the Maine Clean Elections Act (MCEA) was passed in 1996, it had...

With Donald Trump’s Election, Mommy Said “No”

Since Donald Trump won the presidential election, there have been protests and riots...

Yesterday in Maine, David beat Goliath

Mainers weren’t supposed to defeat Michael Bloomberg’s agenda on the ballot yesterday. His...

LePage on Question 2

Governor LePage on Question 2 harming Maine’s economyGovernor LePage explains Question 2 –...

Liberal Pac Circulates Threatening Mailer to Infrequent Maine Voters

After months of constant repetition across all forms of media, political advertisements truly...

LePage Urges College Students Who Vote to Establish Maine Residency

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage today issued a statement urging college students...

Portland Press Herald Refuses to Print Opinion Piece by Governor LePage

When Press Secretary Adrienne Bennett requested the opinion piece be considered for publication,...

Question 3 is a Theft of Our Rights

As this everlasting election cycle winds down, none too soon, I thought I...

Tax Foundation: Question 2 Would Devastate Maine’s Business Climate

Passage of Question 2 would catapult Maine from its newly established position in...

The 7 Fatal Flaws of Question 2

Question 5: Changing the Game

In November of 2014, Governor Paul LePage (R) won re-election to his post...

MECEP Got it Wrong on Question 2

On October 19, Garrett Martin, executive director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy...

Trahan: ‘Yes on 3’ Wrong on Gun Facts

Former U.S. Attorney Paula Silsby recently appeared in a “Yes on 3” campaign...

Question 2 Sets Dangerous Precedent

At this point in the election cycle we all understand fully the union...

Maine People Can’t Trust the MEA

The Maine Education Association (MEA) has used out of state funds to place...

Solemn September

SNIFFLEGATE? The September 26 presidential debate stimulated intense, even violent, disputes about the...

The Real Impact of Question 2

Hi, I’m Ernie Copley.  I’m a college business teacher and a financial planner...

Buckley Wrongly Accuses DHHS in Politically-Motivated Report

It was stunning to read headlines accusing the Department of Health and Human...

Senator John Patrick Drowning in Water Rights Controversy

*For fear of reprisal, the author of this piece has requested to remain...

Maine Sheriffs Take a Stand on Question 3

Referendum Question 3 is a heavily out-of-state funded attack on the rights of...

Question 2 Hurts Business and Exacerbates Disparities in Education Funding

Maine’s citizen’s initiative process promotes civic engagement and gives every day Mainers a...

Seven Communities to Lose Education Funding Under Question 2

If you’re from the town of Sebago, Lincolnville, Greenwood, Bremen, Newry, Machiasport, or...

Question 3 is an Insult to Mainers

On November 8th, Maine citizens will go to the polls to cast their...

Exemptions Are Actually Landmines in Question 3

Question 3 on this November’s ballot has been touted by gun control advocates...

Who do you trust?

We have examined numerous articles about the misguided referendum questions on the ballot...

Question 2 Is Really About Raising Taxes in Maine

Ancient wisdom assumed that any bird would have sense enough to avoid a...

Question 3 Should Be Called the Gun Registry Bill

Question 3 on the November ballot calls for Universal Background Checks on all...

Liberals Unlikely to Keep Election-Year Promises on Welfare

As many may have seen, this week the Cato Institute published their 13th...

Ballot Questions Are Terrible Ways to Make Law

If I told you an interest group sent a legislator a draft bill...

Question 3 Intentionally Confusing to Isolate Gun Owners

Question 3 isn’t just an attack by anti-gun forces on our individual right...

Ballot Questions May Run Afoul of Maine Constitution

Last week I spoke at a forum during Constitution Week at Husson University....

Question 2 Doesn’t Address the High Cost of Education in Maine

One of the arguments we continue to hear against Questions 2 is that...

Hypocrisy: Dems Tout Bi-Partisanship in 2011 Tax Cuts but Support Question 2

As if it comes as any surprise, there is something remarkably hypocritical about...

Another Reason Question 4 Is a Job Killer

Question 4 is a bad idea for many reasons. I find it highly...

Question 3 Is Not a Solution

For several years, Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City, has been...

Maine Liberals Need to ‘Get Real’

Every two years liberals in Maine unveil an economic plan with a new...

Gun Control Isn’t About Making Maine a Safer Place

To hear the supporters of Question 3 — Michael Bloomberg’s attempt to impose...

Tax Flight is Real; Question 2 Would Make It Worse

Many liberal groups, including the Maine People’s Alliance, the Maine Center for Economic...

George Smith: Background Check Initiative Complicated, Unreasonable

The ballot initiative requiring background checks on gun sales and transfers is complicated,...

New Study Shows Expanding Background Checks “Unenforceable Without Firearm Registration Scheme”

According to an article in last week’s Las Vegas Review Journal, the Guinn Center, an independent think tank, took...

Maine Small Business Coalition Masquerades as Independent Group to Support Question 2

The illusory truth effect explains that if someone repeats a lie over and...

Half of Trump Supporters Irredeemable, According to Clinton

Who is the judge of whether another human being is redeemable or not?...

According to New Study, Education Equality Would Be Worse Under Question 2

This week, the Maine School Management Association (MSMA) – a nonprofit comprised of...

Maine Enjoys Second Highest Personal Income Growth in the Nation, Without Question 4

Don’t look now – but Maine’s economy is powering ahead and proving that...

Law Enforcement Shortage Predicted Under Question 3

People are quickly finding that, like many political issues, the devil is in...

Ranked-Choice Voting Throws Out Traditional Voting System

Question 5 on the November ballot is asking Mainers to replace traditional elections...

M.D. Harmon: Just a Little Logic Essentially Shoots Question 3 Full of Holes

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin is believed to have been the author of a...

How Much Freedom Are You Willing to Sacrifice in the Name of “Safety”?

This November, Maine voters will be faced with an age-old question — how...

Question 4 Is a Problem Which Literally Just Keeps Growing

A few weeks ago, Greg Dougal and Adam Lee each presented their viewpoints...

Question 2 Will Only Benefit Maine’s Most Resourceful School Districts

This year, Maine voters will face an array of ballot measures, replete with...

Ballot Question 3 Is About Control

CONTROL: To exercise authoritative or dominating influence over others. To regulate. Question 3...

Cain’s Attempt to Fleece Sportsmen Backfires Immediately

Last week Emily Cain, Democratic Candidate for the Second Congressional District of Maine,...

NRA Attacks Question 3 Ballot Initiative in Maine

Initiative will do nothing to keep guns away from criminals The National Rifle...

Don’t Be Fooled by Another Referendum That Claims to Solve Education Funding

We all agree more money should go directly into the classroom to benefit...

We Don’t Need Bloomberg’s Nanny State Restrictions

It’s pretty clear by now that billionaire and former NYC Mayor, Michael Bloomberg,...

Raising Minimum Wage Will Hurt Small Businesses and Increase Layoffs

The debate over the November ballot initiative to raise the statewide minimum wage has...

Lighten Up, Bloomberg

Anyone who’s ever watched the movie Stripes, starring Bill Murray, about hapless men...

Bucky Owen Owes Reynolds and Sportsmen an Apology

On July 24, 2016, Bucky Owen, former commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife...

Referendum Question 3 Goes Beyond a Background Check

Supporters of Question 3 (to expand firearm background checks to private sales) continually...

Question 4 Will Eliminate Low-Wage Jobs, Not Low Wages

Something I will occasionally do while going through checkout at a store is...

Russell Receives More Sanctions From Ethics Commission

After losing her run for the District 27 Senate seat in the primary...

Pro-Minimum Wage Study Filled with Flaws

Recently, advocates of increasing Maine’s minimum wage published a study highlighting the alleged...

Maine Dem Rewarded for Role in Campaign Funding Scheme?

There have been many troubling developments surrounding the Democratic Party’s support for Hillary...

Maine Education Association Puts Money Into Political Campaigns, Not Classrooms

The Maine Education Association has a tremendous influence on legislators in Augusta. But...

Question 4: Eliminating the Tip Credit Is Bad for Business

In the last few months, The Maine Wire has drawn attention to the...

Emails Reveal Maine Democratic Party Coordination in DNC WikiLeaks Scandal

This past Friday the Nation was rocked by WikiLeaks’ release of DNC emails. The leaks are...

A Trip to the Bloomberg Big Top Road Show

The Ringmaster has all the answers to the questions no one is asking...

Is Maine Now Owned by New York?

With a Citizen’s Initiative Process ripe for abuse and for sale to any billionaire,...

Checking the Facts of Minimum Wage Hikes

Maine’s third-largest industry is tourism. At a size of approximately $2.2 billion and...

The Promise of a ‘True Majority’ With Ranked-Choice Voting Doesn’t Add Up

Clare Hudson Payne’s June 9 BDN OpEd in support of ranked-choice voting is an example...

Ballot Order of Referendum Questions Announced

Yesterday, Secretary Dunlap announced the ballot order of referendum questions for the upcoming...

Never Let a Tragedy Go to Waste

As Krysta Lilly has already pointed out in a Lewiston Sun Journal column,...

Maine Doesn’t Need New York-Style Gun Control

The proposal for Universal Background Checks on the November ballot seems simple, but...

Questioning the Citizenship Behind Citizen Initiatives

I have lived in Maine for sixteen years. When I first moved here,...

Gun Control Initiatives Are Funded by a Few Anti-Gun Billionaires

Contrary to the grassroots image that anti-gun groups try to portray, their funding...

Cartoon: Gun Control for Dummies

Courtesy of NetRightDaily

Despite Record Fundraising, Russell Finished Dead Last in Portland Race

As the dust settles from the primary elections, it’s become clear that voters...

Mainers for Responsible Gun Ownership is Yet Another Front for Bloomberg

On Tuesday, June 7 the Sun Journal posted a column in which David...

MDOL Comments on Minimum Wage Ballot Question

On Monday, June 13, 2016, the Maine Department of Labor formally submitted public...

Tax Hike Referendum Harmful to School Funding

A cone was excavated by the French at the site of ancient Lagash,...

Hypocrisy Abounds in the CD 2 Race

How many times have you seen liberal Maine candidates for office, or political...

Clinton’s Pattern of Dishonesty is Alarming

Everyone can agree that this election cycle is a continuing political phenomenon. It...

Ranked Choice Voting: a Solution in Search of a Problem

In 2010, then-Mayor Paul LePage managed to win the governorship with roughly 38...