On Sept. 26, Indivisible-Boothbay, a nonpartisan group of citizen-activists in the Boothbay Region, will hold its monthly meeting from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Rotary Club’s building at 66 Montgomery Road, Boothbay Harbor.

The gathering will feature a discussion of Ranked Choice Voting led by Finn Melanson of Ranked Choice Voting Maine. In 2016, the referendum question on ranked choice voting known as Question 4 was passed by Maine voters and became law. Ranked choice voting requires that to win an election, a candidate must garner a majority of the votes. Voters rank their choices, and the lowest vote-getters are dropped in subsequent rounds of vote counting until one of the remaining candidates receives a majority of votes. In Lincoln County, the measure won with 51 percent of the vote.

After ranked choice voting was passed, the state supreme court ruled that part of the new law was in conflict with the state constitution, which states that a winning candidate needs only a plurality of votes. However, the legislature failed to amend the law as passed, and so it stands today. Much confusion centers around changes in voting that will occur due to the new law, as well as the implications of the state supreme court’s ruling.

Another discussion topic at the meeting will be the upcoming referendum on Medicaid expansion in the state, Question 2. One of the principles supported by Indivisible-Boothbay is “improving the health and well-being of all.” On Nov. 7, Maine voters will have the opportunity to pass an initiative allowing approximately 70,000 Maine adults under 65, who earn below $16,000 for a single person and $22,000 for a family of two, to receive health insurance. Maine is the only New England state to refuse federal funding to increase access to Medicaid; Governor LePage has vetoed Medicaid expansion five times. Discussion will focus on how to encourage local voters to cast a “yes” vote on Question 2.

All interested persons are invited to attend. Attendees are welcome to bring refreshments to share. For more information, contact this month’s meeting leader, Francine Rondina, at 380-4722 or froser2@gmail.com.