Final answer:
Maine's electoral votes are divided between Presidential candidates because it employs the congressional district method, awarding one electoral vote per congressional district won, plus two electoral votes to the statewide winner, reflecting a proportional representation in the Electoral College.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maine's electoral votes are split between the two candidates because Maine, along with Nebraska, uses the congressional district method to allocate its electors. Instead of employing the winner-take-all system like the majority of states, Maine awards one electoral vote to the presidential candidate who wins each congressional district, with the statewide popular vote winner receiving the two additional votes representing the state's congressional delegation (two Senators). This system reflects Maine's preference for proportionally representing voters in the Electoral College.
During Presidential elections, candidates focus intensely on states like Maine because even a single electoral vote can be crucial in a close election. Maine's unique allocation method encourages candidates to campaign in each congressional district rather than concentrating solely on statewide support. This system can result in scenarios where multiple candidates receive electoral votes, as seen in the 2020 Presidential election where Donald Trump secured one electoral vote from Maine's congressional district while Joe Biden won the state overall and received three electoral votes.
This proportional approach is in contrast to the plurality rule used in most American elections, where the candidate with the most votes overall wins the election.