Why was there a Strong turnout for gay marriage vote in Maine voting results?”
PORTLAND, Maine—City clerks in two of Maine’s biggest cities say the voter turnout was far higher than during a traditional off-year election. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap originally projected that 35 percent of voting age residents would turn out at polling places. He later amended that and said turnout would be higher. In Bangor, City Clerk Patti Dubois (DOO’-boy) says turnout was closer to 50 percent. And in South Portland, the heaver-than-expected turnout led to a shortage of ballots and City Clerk Susan Mooney had to send more than 1,000 photocopied ballots to polling places. Gay marriage was the top item, but residents also voted on tax-related referendums and proposals calling for the repeal of the state’s school district consolidation law and an expansion of the medical marijuana law.
Turnout is reported to be unusually heavy, giving hope to gay-rights advocates. Supporters of the measure acknowledge light turnout would have been better for them but say things remain promising. With polls showing a closely divided electorate, advocates on both sides of the issue predicted it would be a long night before results were known in the latest battle over whether to let couples marry regardless of gender. But gay-rights supporters were hopeful when state officials reported this afternoon that voter turnout appeared unusually heavy for an off-year election, with no statewide or national candidates on the ballot. “That’s great for us,” said Mark Sullivan, spokesman for No on 1/Protect Maine Equality, the coalition that is seeking to allow same-sex partners to marry.
