[[Last update, 8:30 a.m., Nov. 4: From Vermont Freedom to Marry:
With 87% of precincts reporting, voters repealed Maine's equal marriage law by a 52-47 margin, setting aside that state's recently-enacted law allowing same-sex couples to legally marry. (The law had not yet taken effect.) We decry this hurtful and unjust outcome that harms Mainers in every community, in every family, and in every walk of life.
{heavy sigh} ]]
[[Update #3: 51.99% for repeal of marriage equality; 48.01% for preserving marriage equality as of midnight with 75% of precincts reporting. I'm going to bed, and I'll take another look in the morning. Aren't we glad we don't have a second-guessing referendum system here?!]]
[[Update #2: Yes (for repeal) 51.58% No 171171 48.42%; word is that the cities' votes are in and it's now the rural and absentee votes that are hanging. Not looking hopeful; likely recount with numbers this close.]]
According to the Bangor Daily News, Maine voters are following the script of 30 other states by supporting the repeal of the Marriage Equality law their legislators passed and their governor signed last spring. As of 10:20 pm, the margin is 51.83% for repeal to 48.17% against repeal and in support of keeping marriage equality.
[[Update 1: 28% of the precincts reporting at 10:20 pm]]
There are a LOT of precincts still to report their votes, including Lewiston & Auburn in Androscoggin County; Caribou and Houlton (sharing over 10k voters between them) in Aroostook County (far north, inland, potato country), and not to mention St. Agatha with 666 voters; much of semi-urban and urban Cumberland County including Portland, South Portland, and Brunswick precincts; Franklin County, with only three towns showing over 1,000 voters (New Sharon, Rangeley, and Strong); Hancock County (Bar Harbor and Ellsworth and surrounding areas, including Township 28 with 3 registered voters); Kennebec County, including the state capital Augusta, Waterville -- home of Colby College, my alma mater -- and a whole slew of towns with over 1000 voters apiece; Knox County (Camden area, mid-northern coast); Lincoln County (Damariscotta and Waldoboro being the two biggest towns not yet reporting, mostly coastal, includes Boothbay Harbor); Oxford County, home of Paris and Denmark and Peru and Sweden, along with Fryeburg, along the NH border inland; Penobscot County, including Bangor and Orono (University of Maine); Piscataquis County -- northern and inland, devastated by the loss of manufacturing jobs over the last 40 years, especially in Dover-Foxcroft; Bath area, home of the Bath Ironworks, major shipbuilding, with recent layoffs announced -- in Sagadahoc County, north of Portland; Somerset County, whose most recognizable town to those of us who don't live there is Skowhegan; Waldo County, which includes Belfast (north of Camden, southeast of Bangor, if you're following along); Washington County (we're almost done here) where if you went further north along the coast, you'd be in New Brunswick, Eastport and Lubec right along the border, and Township 19 has 2 registered voters; and finally, York County, at the other end of the state, including Kittery (home of many mega outlet malls), and Biddeford, and Kennebunkport (home of you know who, at least in the summer); and Saco, and York Beach, York Center, and Ogunquit by the sea.
It's gonna be a long night. |
