Maine joins interstate alliance to elect president by popular vote

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills let a bill become law without her signature that adds Maine's four Electoral College votes to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, under which member states would collectively award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. Importantly, the compact would come into force only once states with a majority of electoral votes have joined to ensure the popular vote winner becomes president.

Currently, the winner of the statewide vote in Maine earns electoral votes, while whichever candidate wins in either of the state's two congressional districts gets one additional vote per district. That system will remain in place until the compact is activated, meaning Donald Trump will likely win an electoral vote in the red-leaning 2nd District this year while Joe Biden secures Maine's other three electoral votes, just as in 2020.