Justin Chenette

Do you believe election results are final? Do you believe government officials should have to abide by election results? Do you believe election results represent a legal mandate from the people?

If your answer is a resounding yes with an eye roll, you’re not alone. This should be a no-brainer. Of course, in the United State of America, we honor and respect electoral outcomes. Apparently, Maine gets a “Get out of Jail Free Card” on this front.

The concept should be simple: When people cast their ballots, they should know without a shadow of a doubt that their vote will be honored, respected, and most importantly counted. People need to be able to trust that their vote means something, that is was worth the time to fulfill their civic duty.

When I run for office and my name appears on the ballot, there is a chance I might lose. At least that is the assumption, if we are still living in a Representative Democracy. The results aren’t fixed. As an elected or government official, I shouldn’t be able to simply choose what the outcome is. It’s based on how people vote. Citizen initiatives and referendums should be no different.

Recently, there has been an all-out assault on our democratic institutions. A small group of politicians have been able to cherry-pick which election results they abide by based on what they agree with. Undermining or all out ignoring free and fair election results. Minimum wage, marijuana legalization, ranked-choice voting, and education funding are all referendums put on the chopping block in one form or another.

It disenfranchises Maine voters when we don’t honor their will at the ballot box. It discourages voter participation and trust in the institution.

I have introduced a measure that would prevent the legislature from tampering with passed voter-approved referendums for at least a year. Allow the referendum to become law. It’s fine if there are minor clarifying adjustments, but nothing that seeks to change the intent of voters for a year. In that year, we can collect data and information to determine if things need to be tweaked. My bill would also ensure that in order to get the referendum on the ballot, the language would go through the non-partisan staff who write legislation at the State House to ensure the intent of those collecting the signatures is in fact carried out in the language going to the ballot box.

The ranked-choice voting referendum was one such citizen-led initiative partially blocked by the legislature that should be fully implemented.

As you know, ranked-choice voting gives voters the freedom to rank candidates in the order of preference. If your favorite candidate doesn’t receive enough support to win, your one vote counts for your second choice and so on, until someone wins with more than 50% or a majority of the vote.

It is still one person, one vote throughout a process of elimination.

The objective is multi-faceted: discourage negative campaigning, eliminate vote splitting and the spoiler effect, and encourage voter participation.

The Secretary of State and clerks around Maine demonstrated resolve and carried out our first elections to use RCV last year. They did a wonderful job and it went smoothly. I heard overwhelming appreciation and support for the use of RCV in our elections while standing at the polls.

Aside from protecting referendums moving forward, I’ve introduced a measure proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Maine to implement ranked-choice voting. The bill isn’t about whether someone likes or dislikes ranked choice voting; it’s about giving Maine voters a final say in the matter. It’s the only way to fully implement after the courts weighed in suggesting the Maine Constitution would need to be changed in order to fulfill voter wishes. The only way to do that is through a final additional referendum — this time, started at the legislative level.

Maine people voted to support ranked-choice voting at the ballot box not just once, but twice over the last three years.

We currently have a spilt system, using ranked choice voting in some races but not all. We should adopt RCV for all races. That would make things consistent and easier to understand, so voters wouldn’t have to use multiple voting systems at the ballot box.

The bottom line is: We as your elected officials should honor free and fair election results and the voters’ wishes. You can be disappointed with the result, but not question or ignore the outcome. It’s time the legislature respects you, and my bill puts us on a path to doing just that.

Justin Chenette is serving his second term in the State Senate representing Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Hollis, Limington and Buxton. He chairs the Government Oversight Committee, co-chairs the Democracy Reform Caucus, and serves on the Environment & Natural Resources Committee. He is also a Citizen Trade Policy Commissioner. Outside the legislature, Justin is a Realtor with the Bean Group and is the Vice President of Saco Main Street.