



"Semi-open" primaries over the various forms of closed or fully open primaries for candidate selection at all governmental levels.
Presidential primaries over presidential caucuses, recognizing that the rules concerning the primaries will be more consistent with League values if they are "semi-open." The League also supports Presidential primaries held on set dates that do not cause a loss of party delegates.
The LWVME defines a "semi-open" primary as a primary in which unenrolled/unaffiliated voters may vote on one ballot per primary without having to enroll in that particular political party. Voters enrolled in a political party can vote only on the ballot of their party.
Government, as opposed to party, funding and administration of federal, state, and county primaries.
The LWVME neither supports nor opposes nonpartisan primaries. The LWVME will continue to monitor experience with nonpartisan primaries and re-examine this issue when the results of more empirical studies are available.
In the 130th Legislature, we are supporting LD 231, a bill to create semi-open primaries. You can learn more on our Take Action page or at Open Primaries Maine.
Read Our Legislative Testimony on This and Other Priority Issues
Learn more about our recently completed study of candidate selection systems and read our back ground material here.