What if, say, Putin lost an election and he could just not certify it...only the judicial branch stands n the way of this not correct way to do things...correct way is an independent election commission.

it was very clear, and I was happy to be able to put my first three choices for governor.

I think this is a positive development.

As for LePage refusing to certify the results -- I don't think he has that power.

The election is still binding. Kind of like all those bills he refused to sign that became laws anyhow.

but, whatever ballot that lands in front of me, you can be sure that no Repub will be on the top of the one I return.

Ranked choice is not a gimmick. It is used in other countries quite successfully. It eliminates the farce of “first past the poll” plurality elections where a candidate can get elected with less than 50% of the vote.

But you don't have to show up to the polls multiple times.

Now we just need them to fix this so we can use it in the general election for governor, state senator, and state representative. For those who don't get why Mainers want this, we pretty always have independents that run, which results in splitting the votes 3 or more ways. LePage is a very unpopular governor, but he got elected twice with less than 50% of the vote each time. Plurality voting gives us unpopular and sometimes even extremist elected officials. Ranked choice gives us instant run off elections when no one has at least 50% of the vote.

And call it Preferential Voting. Here's an explanation of how it works.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/explainer-what-is-preferential-voting

HOW IT WORKS

On a ballot paper, placing a number one against a candidate is considered the first preference or primary vote.

If no candidate secures an absolute majority of primary votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is then eliminated from the count.

The votes for this eliminated candidate are then redistributed among the remaining candidates according to the number two preference indicated on the original ballot.

This process of elimination based on preferences continues until a candidate secures an absolute majority.

Such a process enables a two-party system to ultimately emerge, whereby all votes are effectively divided between two major parties – in this case, the Labor and Liberal parties.