PORTLAND, Maine - The Latest on the Maine Democratic Convention (all times local):

4 p.m.

Maine Democrats have sent colleagues across the country a strong message that they are fed up with the party's system of superdelegates.

At their state convention Saturday, they adopted a proposal to reduce the clout of unpledged elected officials and party insiders.

The measure urges Maine's five superdelegates to vote in proportion to the results of state caucuses won by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in March. But it gets teeth four years from now — requiring the party chairman to account for superdelegates' preferences to ensure the delegation sent to the national convention reflects the outcome of the state party vote.

During the debate, Brigham McNaughton, a rank-and-file Democrat from Freeport, received a rowdy ovation when he described a "rigged system" in which five superdelegates defy the will of the voters.

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10:20 a.m.

Maine Democrats are delivering a rebuke to the system of superdelegates at their state convention.

Supporters of Bernie Sanders expressed frustration that many superdelegates representing the party leaders and elected officials favour former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and are not beholden to the outcome of the state caucuses won by the Vermont senator.

The proposal adopted Saturday strongly encourages superdelegates to vote in proportion to caucus results. But it has teeth in 2020, requiring the party chair to account for superdelegates' preferences to ensure the overall delegate makeup matches the outcome of the caucus or primary.

State Rep. Diane Russell said her proposal allows the state party to work around national rules giving superdelegates autonomy to ensure state delegations to the national convention follow the will of rank-and-file voters.

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10 a.m.

Maine Democrats are debating a proposal to deliver a rebuke to the system of so-called superdelegates.

Democrat Brigham McNaughton of Freeport received a rowdy ovation when he described a "rigged system" in which five superdelegates defy the will of rank-and-file Democrats in Maine. But another, Lynn Luzzi of Knox County, said the current system was set up to avoid what happened in the GOP, allowing Donald Trump's rise.

Bernie Sanders' supporters are frustrated that superdelegates are favouring Hillary Clinton and are not beholden to the outcome of the state caucuses Sanders won.

A proposal by state Rep. Diane Russell of Portland would encourage superdelegates to vote in proportion with caucus results. She said her proposal allows the state party to work around national rules and to follow the will of voters.

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8:20 a.m.

Maine Democrats gathering for their state convention in Portland are going to consider a proposal to strip some of the power from superdelegates.

Bernie Sanders' supporters are frustrated that superdelegates representing the party establishment are favouring Hillary Clinton and that they are not beholden to the outcome of the state caucuses.

A proposal by state Rep. Diane Russell of Portland would encourage superdelegates to vote in proportion with caucus results. Four years from now, it would require the party chair to account for superdelegates' preferences to ensure the overall delegate makeup matches the outcome of the caucus or primary.

Russell said her proposal allows the state party to work around national rules giving superdelegates autonomy to ensure that delegates follow the will of voters.

News from © The Associated Press, 2016