An Act To Amend the Election Laws To Require a Run-off Election for Governor

Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §726  is enacted to read:

§ 726.  Run-off election; Governor

The candidate for Governor who receives more than 50% of all the votes cast for the office is elected Governor. If no candidate receives more than 50% of all the votes cast, a 2nd election must be held within 2 weeks after the first election. In the 2nd election, the names of the 2 candidates who received the most votes must be placed on the ballot. The candidate who receives more than 50% of all the votes cast at the 2nd election is elected Governor. The 2nd election must be called and held in the same manner and under the same rules as the first election.

SUMMARY

This bill requires that a successful candidate for Governor receive more than 50% of the votes cast for the office of Governor. Currently, the candidate who receives the largest number of votes is declared the winner, regardless of that number's percentage of the total number of votes cast for the office. This bill requires a run-off election between the 2 candidates who received the largest number of votes when no candidate received more than 50% of the total number of votes cast in an election. The person who receives the larger number of votes in the run-off election is declared the winner.