Maine

2010

In the June, 2010 primary elections, Maine voters will be asked to weigh in on the legislature’s progressive tax reform plan that was passed in 2009. The proposed changes would lower the income tax range and expand the sales tax to previously exempt goods and services.

Opponents of LGBT equality in Maine had been circulating an initiative for the 2010 ballot, but failed to collect enough signatures by the 18-month deadline. Their initiative would have repealed current discrimination protections, banned civil unions, banned adoption by unmarried couples, and banned civil rights teams in schools.

Currently, other initiatives are circulating that, if approved, would:

• Ban fluoride in drinking water;
• Relax medical marijuana distribution laws; and
• Decriminalize marijuana.

2009

In Maine, citizens voted on seven ballot measures. Two of the citizen-petitioned initiatives dealt with taxes and spending. A revenue cap measure, or so-called TABOR II initiative (Taxpayer Bill of Rights), was solidly rejected by 60% of Maine voters. It was the third time Maine voters have voted against TABOR. Voters also rejected, 74-26%, an excise tax reduction which would have cut funding for local government investments in road and bridge construction.

These two ballot questions (TABOR II and the excise tax) were developed by the Maine Heritage Policy Center and put on the ballot by another conservative group, Maine Leads.  During the course of the campaign, Maine Leads, which had money funneled to the campaign by shadowy, out of state funders, faced an ethics investigation which ultimately led to them being required to disclose its donors.

Another ballot measure that received national media attention was the citizen’s veto of the marriage equality law that was passed by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor earlier this year.  Fifty three percent of voters chose to veto the law and the campaign to protect marriage equality ultimately came up short. The vote against equality affects thousands of hard-working, tax-paying Maine families, couples, and children, yet by receiving 47% of the vote, this campaign signified that Maine voters were willing to stand up for marriage equality and that over time, voters are increasingly becoming more open toward marriage.

The remainder of Maine’s ballot questions experienced mixed results.  A Maine bonding measure was approved by 65% of the vote, approving $71,250,000 for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit facilities, ferry and port facilities, including port and harbor structures, as well as funds for the LifeFlight Foundation that will make the State eligible for over $148,000,000 in federal and other matching funds.  A medical marijuana initiative, which legalized marijuana for expanded treatment of medical conditions and to create a regulated system of distribution, garnered 59% of electorate support, making Maine the 15th state to allow for medical marijuana. 

Measures to repeal the state’s 2007 school consolidation law failed with a 59-41% breakdown of the vote, while voters turned down a constitutional change increasing the amount of time local officials have to certify signatures on direct initiative petitions by a 52-48% margin. 

Seven measures were on the statewide ballot.
Five measures were citizen-petitioned initiatives.
Two measures were legislative referenda.

 

1 popular referendum qualified.

Question 1: LGBT Equality

People's Veto of P.L. 2009, c. 82 "An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom": Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?
Proponents: http://standformarriagemaine.com/
Opponents: http://www.protectmaineequality.org
PASSED 53% - 47%

4 statutory measures qualified.

Question 2: Investment/Taxes

“An Act to Decrease the Automobile Excise Tax and Promote Energy Efficiency”: Do you want to cut the rate of the municipal excise tax by an average of 55% on motor vehicles less than six years old and exempt hybrid and other alternative-energy and highly fuel-efficient motor vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise tax?
Proponents: http://www.moregreennow.com/
Opponents: http://www.mainecandobetter.org/
FAILED 74% - 26%

Question 3: Education

“An Act to Repeal the School District Consolidation Laws": Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect?
Proponents: http://repealconsolidation.weebly.com/
Opponents:
FAILED 58% - 42%

Question 4: Investment/Taxes

“An Act to Promote Tax Relief": Do you want to change the existing formulas that limit state and local government spending and require voter approval by referendum for spending over those limits and for increases in state taxes?
Proponents: http://www.tabornow.com/
Opponents: http://www.votenoontabor.org
FAILED 60% - 40%

Question 5: Drug Reform

“An Act to Establish the Maine Medical Marijuana Act": Do you want to change the medical marijuana laws to allow treatment of more medical conditions and to create a regulated system of distribution?
Proponents: http://www.mainepatientsrights.org/
Opponents:
PASSED 59% - 41%

1 bond was referred.

Question 6: Transportation

Do you favor a $71,250,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit facilities, ferry and port facilities, including port and harbor structures, as well as funds for the LifeFlight Foundation that will make the State eligible for over $148,000,000 in federal and other matching funds.
PASSED 65% - 35%

1 constitutional amendment was referred.

Question 7: Election Reform

"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to increase the amount of time that local officials have to certify the signatures on direct initiative petitions?"
FAILED 52% - 48%

2010

The Maine legislature has already approved four bond measures for the 2010 ballot. During the state's June primaries, voters will be asked to approve: $33 million in bonds for wind energy, weatherization, and education projects; $25 million in bonds for economic development projects and; $10 million in bonds for environmental projects. The only bond measure on the 2010 general election ballot thus far would provide $10 million for the state's conservation efforts.

2008

For more 2008 election information, click here.

 

For additional information please visit the Maine Secretary State website at: http://maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/