Let’s take this opportunity to improve Maine’s election process | Letter

Maine Advocate Calls for Direct Election of Four Key State Offices

Kennebunk, Maine – In a letter to the editor of the Press‑Herald, local resident Fred Weber urged state leaders to move away from the legislature’s current practice of appointing Maine’s top state officials and instead give voters the power to elect them. The four positions in question – attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor – are among the most influential offices in the state, yet they remain unelected for decades.

“We should take this opportunity to improve our election process,” Weber wrote, referencing a recent column by Steve Collins that called for voter election of the same four posts. “I believe direct election of the four state positions will require an amendment to the Maine Constitution.”

Weber’s proposal outlines a two‑step election system that he argues would modernize Maine’s democratic process. First, a nonpartisan primary would be held, in which all registered voters could vote. The primary would narrow the field to no more than four candidates per office. Those top four would then advance to the general election.

In the general election, Weber suggests using ranked‑choice voting—a system that has already been employed in the recent Democratic gubernatorial primary—to determine a majority winner. “This prompts candidates to appeal to more than their natural base and to be more civil with campaigns and their approach to their competitors,” he wrote.

The letter was published on August 24, 2026, and follows Steve Collins’ August 25 column, which praised the idea of voter‑direct elections for the four state posts. Collins’ piece also highlighted the benefits of ranked‑choice voting in recent Maine elections.

“We have seen recently in the Democrats’ gubernatorial primary, this prompts candidates to appeal to more than their natural base,” Weber noted, pointing to the recent use of ranked‑choice voting as a model for broader state offices.

Weber’s letter is part of a broader debate over Maine’s appointment system. Since 1816, the state constitution has allowed the General Assembly to appoint the attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor—positions that wield significant influence over the administration of state law, elections, and public finances. Critics argue that the appointment process can lead to politicization and a lack of accountability, while supporters say it protects the offices from partisan gerrymandering and keeps them focused on the public interest.

The idea of constitutional amendment to allow direct elections is not new. In 2014, a proposal to let voters elect the secretary of state failed in a statewide vote, and similar ideas have been floated in state legislative sessions. However, no major push has gathered enough support for a constitutional amendment in recent years.

“We should take this time to implement a modern voting process,” Weber added. “To do that we should have a nonpartisan primary to reduce the candidates for each position to no more than four people. All registered voters would be eligible to vote in this primary.”

The proposed ranked‑choice system, which would be used in the general election, would require voters to rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives a majority of first‑choice votes, the lowest‑ranking candidate is eliminated and their votes redistributed according to the next preference indicated. This process repeats until a candidate secures a majority.

“We believe this will encourage more civil campaigning,” Weber said, citing the smoother, more collaborative tone seen in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. “It’s a modern, fair, and efficient approach to choosing our state leaders.”

The letter received responses from a number of community members, some of whom praised Weber’s clarity, while others cautioned that the current appointment system serves as a check on partisan politics. The Maine Press Herald editorial board noted that the debate over direct election versus appointment is likely to intensify as the state continues to examine its governance structures.

The next step for the proposal would be to introduce a constitutional amendment. Under Maine’s constitution, amendments can be placed on the ballot either by a two‑thirds vote of the General Assembly or by a citizen‑initiated petition. Either route would require significant political momentum and public support.

“We have the chance to make a meaningful change to how we elect our most important state officials,” Weber wrote. “Let’s take this chance and create a more democratic, transparent system for all Mainer voters.”

The letter has sparked conversation across the state, with political analysts and civic groups weighing in on the merits and challenges of shifting from appointment to direct election. Whether Maine will adopt a new electoral framework for its chief state offices remains to be seen, but the dialogue it has opened underscores a growing public interest in more participatory governance.