The League of Women Voters of Maine is a leading voice in advocacy for more representative voting methods. For more than a decade, the League has been providing education and advocacy in support of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) to ensure that the individuals elected in single-winner races are supported by the majority of voters they are to represent. The League recognizes that its work on this front is not yet complete and continues to advocate for full implementation of Ranked Choice Voting in single-winner elections. See the LWVME position on single-winner RCV.
However, the LWVME Advocacy Committee has become increasingly concerned that election methods common in Maine (such as Vote-for-N elections, widely used in municipal elections) may not reliably deliver proportional representation.
In 2021, the Advocacy Committee requested authorization to launch a League study of Proportional Ranked Choice Voting (pRCV), an election method designed to better achieve proportional representation on multi-seat councils, boards, and legislatures. For a quick introduction to pRCV, we recommend this three-minute post-it note demonstration. With Board support, the pRCV Study Committee was convened in early 2022 and now presents this study guide to League members and supporters.
Read the full study here.
Brief Introductions to pRCV
What is a study?
Study makes action possible. During the study phase, members have an opportunity to examine the facts, along with key pro and con arguments. They are encouraged to discuss the political realities of action on that issue and to engage members of the broader community in the discussion. Study gives members the knowledge that makes League action uniquely credible. Learn more about the League study process here.
General Study Timeline
January: League members are asked to read through the study materials.
February: The pRCV study committee will offer several introductory webinars. The goal of these is to help League members better understand the subject matter and ask questions.
March-April: Local Leagues will hold consensus meetings. During these meetings, Leagues are provided with questions to help guide the discussions. Leagues will review the study materials, talk through the pros and cons, and come to a consensus. They will send their consensus to the study committee.
May: If a consensus has been reached, the study committee will prepare a statement/position and submit it to the LWVME board.
June: League members will vote and approve of the new position at the state LWVME Convention.