Early returns show gay marriage in Maine close

[2QT2BSTR8]

Source: AP

PORTLAND, Maine — Gay marriage was put to a vote in Maine on Tuesday in a closely watched referendum that gay-rights activists across the country hoped would prove for the first time that their cause can prevail at the ballot box.

Voters had to decide whether to repeal or affirm a state law that would allow gay couples to wed. The law was passed by the Legislature in May but never took effect because of a petition drive by conservatives.

Early returns showed a close contest, as had been forecast. With 70 of 608 precincts reporting, the gay-marriage side had 53 percent to 47 percent for the other side.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iGQ6LMSOvL9rjDHrAmyO9mHoVieAD9BOEH3G2

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I really hope the people support the legislature on this one! For the phone banks I was involved in calling voters, I rarely received a negative response.

[Newsjock]

1. Update: 50-50

Seen on-screen on WCSH-TV just now:
No 65,452 50%
Yes 64,467 50%

[msongs]

2. so will christians once again impose their religion on EVERYBODY else?

cuz it's all about using religion to suppress, just like it's been done for 2000 years.

Msongs

[MellowDem]

4. Maine is one of the least religious states there is...

and in fact, the yes on issue 1 campaign used propaganda that was much more secular in its reasoning. Unfortunately, your Christian bigotry can't explain away the vote. Just look at the vote to expand medical marijuana in Maine and how it's succeeding by a ton. I don't know of too many Christians personally who would be all for expanding medical marijuana laws but be opposed to gay marriage.

[tekisui]

3. 50.1%--49.9% with 32% reporting for NO.

[NCDem60]

5. Doesn't look good Cumberland County, the most liberal in the state, is way overrepresented so far.

[defendandprotect]

6. Rooting for Maine to do the right thing . . . !!! Come on Maine -- !!!

[BREMPRO]

7. 50/50 with 40% reporting- no has only 300 votes lead

rural counties usually report later- so this may go the way of CA question 8

at least TABOR was roundly defeated, for the THIRD time in Maine!- these national Libertarian activists should cut out trying to mess with local/state politics.

[David__77]

8. In CA, the late result were for gay marriage.

In CA, the rural counties report first, and then SF and LA come in late and swamp the other votes, usually. I hope in Maine it's not the opposite.

[Eryemil]

9. CNN just called it, Yes won. I feel sorry for you yanks. n|t

[2QT2BSTR8]

13. Quoting from CNN 1 hour ago

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/04/races.to.watch/index.html

When did you see it?

Early results on a measure that would reject a law allowing same-sex marriage were tight, according to the Bangor (Maine) Daily News.

With 70 percent of precincts reporting, nearly 52 percent of voters chose to reject the law, with more than 48 percent voting to retain it, according to the Daily News.

When Gov. John Baldacci signed the legislation on May 6, he did so knowing there was a possibility that voters could overturn it. In September, opposition groups delivered the necessary signatures to get a vote.

Maine would be sixth state to allow same-sex marriage if voters uphold the legislation.

[chadmak09]

10. I wonder how many vote incorrectly?

Having to vote no if your for gay marriage, and having to vote yes if your against gay marriage is probably very confusing to the senior citizens.
They should just ask "are you for gay marriage? yes or no" on the ballot.

Alot of the seniors probably will vote no thinking that they just voted against gay marriage.
and vice versa.

[2QT2BSTR8]

12. I worked the phone banks calling Maine.....

and mostly all of the people I spoke with clearly understood the language of the ballot. I think I had 9 people that did not understand out of the hundreds of calls I placed.

Quoting from: http://www.cumberlandmaine.com/clerk/elec/elec_2009_Sample_Ballot.pdf

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?

[kirby]

11. Since when

does a vote allow the denial/granting of a citizens constitutional rights? This isn't something that should be decided by popular vote.