Republicans want worker removed from Poliquin-Golden ballot count

AUGUSTA — Election officials inched closer Monday to a historic ranked-choice run-off in Maine’s 2nd District even as the political parties traded jabs over “voter integrity” and “scare tactics.”

With the final outcome of the 2nd District race still unclear, the Maine Republican Party called on Secretary of State Matt Dunlap to reassign an employee involved in ranked-choice voting tabulation because of his social media activity. Democratic Party leaders and Dunlap, meanwhile, responded by accusing Maine Republicans of attempting to undermine public confidence in the voting system.

“I’m pretty sure that the Maine Republican Party has our phone number, and if they have questions they can call us and ask us,” Dunlap said. “Instead they are communicating through the media. I think it’s intended to be a distraction, it’s intended to cast doubt on this process. And I think it’s irresponsible and a disservice to the people of Maine.”

Incumbent Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin is leading Democratic challenger Jared Golden by roughly 2,000 votes, according to unofficial election results. The two-term Republican congressman and Golden – a Marine Corps veteran and state lawmaker – each have roughly 46 percent of the vote. But because neither received more than 50 percent, votes cast for independents Tiffany Bond and William Hoar – who received 8 percent combined – will be reallocated based on who those voters ranked second on their ballots.

Read more: https://www.pressherald.com/2018/11/12/republicans-call-on-maine-secretary-of-state-to-remove-worker-from-ballot-count/