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Gov. Mills faces deadline on bill to use ranked-choice voting in presidential primaries

Governor Mills faces a deadline Friday to sign or veto the bill that would have Maine voters use ranked-choice voting for presidential primaries.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine's Democratic governor faces a decision on a bill to allow voters to rank candidates in the March presidential primary.

Gov. Janet Mills faces a looming deadline to sign or veto the bill, or let it go into effect unsigned. Lawmakers approved the bill Aug. 26, and Mills has 10 days to act.

The Governor's Office told NEWS CENTER Maine that Mills is 'still considering the legislation' and has until midnight Friday to make a decision.

RELATED: Mills to decide on ranked-choice voting in presidential primaries after surprise move by lawmakers

Voters would rank each candidate on a ballot in order of preference. If no candidate gets more than 50%, the last-place candidate is eliminated. The second choices of everyone who ranked that candidate first are distributed, under a process that ends when someone receives over 50%.

Such a process could be complicated with as many as 20 possible presidential candidates. Parties have broad discretion in using ranked results to assign delegates to nominating conventions.

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