Maine Poised to Become First State to Withdraw From Popular Vote Compact

Just last year, Maine—one of only two states that apportions its Electoral College votes—opted to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. 

But the New England state is now poised to exit the compact, which would kick in only if enough states voted to reach the magic 270 electoral votes required to elect a president. While the state has only four electoral votes, a departure would mark a significant first in a compact currently with 17 states and the District of Columbia.

“We were the first state in the nation to split our Electoral College votes by congressional district—a system that reflects our political diversity and values, every voice, whether rural or urban,” said Maine state Rep. Barbara Bagshaw, sponsor of the bill to withdraw from the compact, which passed the House on Tuesday on a bipartisan vote, and now heads to the state Senate, according to the Maine Morning Star. 

“By joining the National Popular Vote Compact we have undermined that,” said Bagshaw, R-Windham. 

The usually blue Maine and generally red Nebraska each have battleground congressional districts that would sometimes draw the attention of presidential candidates. The 48 other states are winner-take-all. 

Maine is among 17 mostly blue states and the District of Columbia that joined the compact, bringing the total to 209 electoral votes, well short of 270. Participating states include California with 52 electoral votes and New York with 28.

Maine state Rep. Arthur Bell, who sponsored the legislation to enter the interstate compact last year, said the Electoral College leads to candidates ignoring Maine. 

“To me, it’s as simple as: Every vote should be equal,” said Bell, D-Yarmouth. 

Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, opposed joining the compact, but let it go into effect without her signature last year.

The movement gained steam mostly on the Left after the 2016 election, when Donald Trump won the Electoral College despite losing the popular vote. However, several Republicans have also supported the measure. 

However, Trump’s popular vote victory in 2024 could prompt more blue-leaning states such as Maine to exit the pact. As The Daily Signal reported, had the interstate compact been in effect with just the current members, Trump would have carried 520 electoral votes.

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among states to give their states’ Electoral College votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the national popular vote, regardless of who their state voters choose. Proponents contend the last presidential election was fought out in seven swing states, and a popular voting contest would force candidates to pay attention to all states.

Opponents contend that a popular national vote would undermine the influence of all states and concentrate the candidates entirely on large metropolitan areas at the expense of rural areas.