Maine
Small New England state allocating Electoral College votes by district, not winner-take-all.
On 29 April, Maine's House failed to override Governor Janet Mills's veto of LD 307, turning its first-in-the-nation statewide data-centre moratorium into a national precedent.
Last refreshed: 22 September 2026 · Appears in 3 active topics
Will Maine's court win against the DOJ's voter-roll demand survive on appeal?
Timeline for Maine
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Data Centres: Boom and BacklashBackground
Maine is a New England state with two congressional districts. It is one of two US states that allocates Electoral College votes by district rather than winner-take-all. Its federal races also use ranked-choice voting, making the state a recurring case study in electoral rules that differ from most of the country.
That structure gives Maine national relevance beyond its population of about 1.4 million. The state can split its electoral votes between candidates, while its rural 2nd District offers a distinct political constituency within a northeastern state.
Maine's institutions now matter in two wider disputes. A federal court backed state control of election administration in May, while the Justice Department appealed in June. Its 2026 data-centre vote also showed how state legislatures, governors and local authorities can shape infrastructure policy differently.
Maine set the moratorium precedent
On 22 April, Maine's legislature passed LD 307, the first statewide data-centre moratorium approved by a US Legislature. Governor Janet Mills vetoed it on 24 April. On 29 April, The House failed to override her by 72 votes to 65, and Mills created an advisory council instead.
By 5 May, five city and county votes had clustered in one week after Maine's veto. The failed bill made Maine a reference point for opponents seeking local routes when a governor can block a statewide ban.
Maine won the first round
On 21 May, a federal court dismissed the Justice Department's voter-data suit against Maine. The ruling backed states as primary regulators and administrators of federal elections, preserving Maine's position against the department's demand at that stage.
By 16 June, the department had appealed Maine's dismissal alongside seven others. As at that date, Maine's case remained unresolved on appeal, making its election administration part of a wider test of federal access to state voter files.