Then-U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, speaks at a news conference in November 2018.
(Robert F. Bukaty | AP)
WATERVILLE, Maine — Former Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin says ranked voting is a “scam” introduced by Democratic activists to ensure that liberals are elected.
Poliquin said the ranked-choice system aimed at ensuring a majority victor means that winning an election is about “how you game the system.”
Poliquin had the most first-place votes in November.
Democrat Jared Golden ultimately won the election by a narrow margin when trailing candidates were eliminated and their supporters’ second-place votes were counted during a second round of tabulations.
The Morning Sentinel reports that Poliquin blamed out-of-state interests and money for the successful ranked-choice voting referendum.
Poliquin has largely kept a low profile since his election loss but he spoke Tuesday at Colby College. The event was sponsored by Colby Republicans, a student organization.
This article originally appeared on www.bangordailynews.com.
