Maine Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin and Democratic challenger Jared Golden were neck and neck in the latter’s first survey of the general election in the 2nd District, with Golden’s position strengthening under a simulation of the state’s new ranked-choice voting system.

Poliquin led Golden 40 percent to 39 percent in the initial matchup, according to a polling memo obtained first by Roll Call.

Minor party candidates earned a combined 4 percent in the initial test, while 16 percent were undecided. The Mellman Group surveyed 400 likely voters by telephone from July 25-30. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

The poll found Golden, the state House assistant majority leader, picking up votes under ranked-choice voting, which will be in place for the general election for the first time this fall. The new system lets voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no one receives a majority, the last-place finisher is eliminated and his or her votes reallocated to the candidates whom voters ranked second. The process continues until someone secures more than 50 percent of the vote.

To simulate the first round, the pollsters first removed undecided voters. Under this model, Poliquin led Golden 48 percent to 47 percent. Independent candidates Tiffany Bond and Will Hoar received 4 percent and 2 percent, respectively.