Ranked Choice Voting Could Benefit Maine, Says Cambridge Resident

Deb Sayer argues that ranked choice voting would improve elections in Maine by encouraging candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:22pm

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Deb Sayer, a former Framingham, Massachusetts resident who now lives in Cambridge, writes that her experience with ranked choice voting (RCV) in Cambridge has shown her how it can improve elections. She argues that RCV forces candidates to be more likable to a wider range of voters, rather than just trying to avoid being a 'spoiler.' Sayer believes the Maine Supreme Court has an opportunity to uphold RCV and show the rest of the country that it's a better system than the 'lesser of two evils' approach.

Why it matters

Ranked choice voting is a contentious political issue in Maine, with the state's Attorney General arguing that it conflicts with the state constitution's 'plurality' requirement. Sayer's perspective as a resident who has experienced RCV firsthand provides an interesting counterpoint to the legal debate.

The details

Sayer explains that in Framingham, where she previously lived, there were rarely enough candidates to generate a real conversation because people feared a 'spoiler' candidate. But in Cambridge, where RCV has been used in municipal elections since 1941, candidates must appeal to a broader range of voters by asking to be their second or third choice. Sayer believes this forces candidates to be more likable and even work together to get elected.

  • The Maine Supreme Court is hearing arguments about ranked choice voting on April 1, 2026.

The players

Deb Sayer

A former resident of Framingham, Massachusetts who now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she has experienced ranked choice voting in municipal elections.

Aaron Frey

The Maine Attorney General, who is arguing that ranked choice voting conflicts with the state constitution's 'plurality' requirement.

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What they’re saying

“I know Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey is stuck on the 'plurality' wording in the Constitution, but to me, that feels like a legal technicality. Historically, Maine went to a plurality in 1880 just to make sure voters — not politicians — picked the winner. RCV doesn't get around that. It's just a smarter, 21st-century tool to find the person who actually has the most support of the people.”

— Deb Sayer, Cambridge, Massachusetts Resident

What’s next

The Maine Supreme Court will decide on the constitutionality of ranked choice voting in the state's elections.

The takeaway

Sayer's perspective as a resident who has experienced ranked choice voting firsthand provides an interesting counterpoint to the legal debate over its use in Maine. Her argument that RCV encourages candidates to appeal to a broader range of voters, rather than just trying to avoid being a 'spoiler,' suggests it could be a beneficial reform for Maine's elections.