Election officials say a ranked-choice voting tabulation aimed at determining the winner of a key congressional race in Maine starts in the coming week

Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, a moderate known for defying party orthodoxy, is in a tight race to keep his seat in Congress against Austin Theriault, a stock car driver and Republican state lawmaker.

The Maine 2nd Congressional District race between incumbent Democrat Rep. Jared Golden and Republican challenger Austin Theriault is heading to a ranked-choice tabulation.

If they picked a number two after that first choice blank or write-in, then that does get tabulated in the ranked choice voting tabulation,” Maine Secretary of State Shenna B

Votes will have to be redistributed under Maine’s ranked choice system to determine the winner of a key congressional race, election officials said. The campaigns of both Republican challenger Austin Theriault and Democratic Rep.

The bruising and expensive race for Maine's 2nd District seat is headed to a ranked choice runoff in which a write-in candidate and blank ballots could play roles.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced ranked-choice tabulation will be required based on the initial results of the General Election for Maine Congressional District 2. The ranked choice voting tabulation is a public process that will begin next week in Augusta.

The Maine Secretary of State's Office says neither incumbent Jared Golden nor challenger Austin Theriault received more than half the vote in the U.S. House race.