Support builds in Maine for switching back to presidential primaries

Source: Portland Press Herald

"AUGUSTA — A bipartisan group of legislative leaders expressed support Monday for switching back to presidential primary elections in Maine after record voter turnout led to lengthy delays at some caucus locations over the weekend.

Senate Minority Leader Justin Alfond, D-Portland, renewed the caucuses-versus-primaries debate one day after unprecedented turnout forced Portland’s Democratic leaders to accept thousands of absentee ballots rather than require participants to attend traditional caucus meetings. Many left without voting, either unable or unwilling to wait up to four hours in a line that stretched a half-mile outside Deering High School."

Read more: http://www.pressherald.com/2016/03/07/maine-party-leaders-call-for-presidential-primaries/

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It looks like Maine might switch to presidential primaries. It seems the major reason Maine wasn't doing primaries was because of the cost. It says in the article that the state takes on the cost of a primary, but the parties take on the cost of caucuses. Check out the picture in the article of the line-up for the Dem primary in Portland this past Sunday. That's why they want to switch primaries.