National popular vote

Maine will not be participating in the National Popular Vote interstate compact.

The Senate had passed the bill by one vote last week. The initiative, sponsored by Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, sought to commit Maine’s four electorates to the winner of the national popular vote in presidential elections -- but only when enough states elected to participate to make up a majority of the Electoral College.

Monday the House rejected the bill without taking a roll call. It was sent back to the Senate, where they also voted to indefinitely postpone it.

UPDATED Apr. 2 at 9:30 p.m. with more details on the debate

The state Senate passed a bill Wednesday allowing Maine to participate in the National Popular Vote interstate compact. The bill will next go before the House for consideration.  read more »

Click here for photos of the Jim Hightower event. See below for video of Hightower’s speech.  read more »

Update: The issue was tabled Thursday. 

The National Popular Vote bill is expected to come up for a second debate and vote Thursday in the Maine Senate.

The issue first came up in the Maine Senate Monday. With Sen. David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, absent, they voted 17 to 17. On Tuesday, Hastings said he is against the bill so, providing everyone is there and votes the same, it won’t pass.

The Maine Senate could not either pass or not pass a bill Monday that would allow the state to participate in the National Popular Vote interstate compact.