AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — After Maine’s messy Republican presidential caucuses necessitated a recount, Senate President Kevin Raye wants to restore presidential primaries to avoid such problems in the future.

Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who’s critical of the way the GOP ran its caucuses in February, supports the bill that was submitted by Raye to restore a presidential primary, where voters would cast ballots in the voting booth instead of local, party-run gatherings.

Raye hails from Washington County, where there was an uproar after local Republicans were told their snowstorm-delayed caucuses wouldn’t count following Mitt Romney’s victory. The Maine GOP also transposed some numbers and overlooked votes in some towns, necessitating a recount.

Romney remained the winner, even after the recount.

“I’ve always felt that a primary system is preferable to a caucus system,” Raye said Friday. “The experience this year crystalized support for a lot of people.”

Maine wasn’t the only caucus state with vote-counting problems. Iowa initially declared Romney to be the winner, but a recount showed that Rick Santorum won the GOP caucuses there.

Maine previously held presidential primaries but they were abandoned largely because of the election expense. Under Raye’s bill, the state would pick up the costs. Raye said he’s unsure what the ultimate figure would be but said “I don’t think you can put a price tag on democracy.”

The bill, which enjoys bipartisan support, is being submitted as emergency legislation even though the next presidential election isn’t until 2016. Raye, who’s running for U.S. House, said he wants the bill to be addressed now because this is his last session.

Critics of caucuses say they tend to draw mostly activists who are willing to gather for an afternoon. They say primaries increase voter participation.

Some still have a soft spot for caucuses, though. Sen. John Patrick, D-Rumford, said the caucuses allow for lively debates that can’t happen in a voting booth.