AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine’s Republican governor is using his likely last veto message to chastise the Democratic secretary of state over an election funding bill.
Gov. Paul LePage on Tuesday vetoed a bill to provide an additional $334,330 to cover the cost of November elections. LePage said taxpayers didn’t get a chance to weigh in on the last-minute, “shifty” bill.
Maine voters will make history by ranking their candidates in November federal races.
Secretary of State Matt Dunlap said the money is needed to print ballots and prepare for the possibility of running a ranked choice tabulation after the election is over.
Lawmakers approved four bond questions late this summer. Dunlap said that move added a third page to the ballot, which has driven up costs.
Lawmakers will consider LePage’s veto Thursday.
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