| US: Gay-marriage vote is too close to call in Maine
Found: Tue Nov 03 20:48:46 2009 PST
Source: Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ)
Copyright: Arizona Daily Star
Contact: letters@azstarnet.com
Website: http://www.azstarnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/23
Webpage: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/3...
Author: Glenn Adams And David Crary, The Associated Press
Newshawk: http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/
| |
Tue, Nov 03, 2009
* Obituaries
Advertise All headlines Calendar Contact us Contests Subscriber services Mobile Newsletters Privacy Site map Make us your home page
Border Breaking news Crime Education Environment Faith Neighbors Politics Science Transportation Your photos
All sports Blogs pac10fanatic.com Fantasy sports Hansen Stats & scores High schools Olympics Fan shop
High schools
Blogs Cycling Fan shop Fantasy sports Golf Hansen HS MLB NBA NHL NFL Olympics Pac-10 Racing Spring training Soccer Stats & scores UA
Top headlines Economic development Real Estate Technology Workplace Consumer Opinions 'Clocking In' blog Star 200 employers
AP breaking news AnalysisOnline Border Environment Politics Science/Technology
AnalysisOnline Fitz archive Fitz store
All blogs AZNightBuzz blogs StarNet editors' blog
Accent Calendar Contests Games Public notices Celebrations Club Scene Oro Valley Mag Bridal At Home Homes sold Book festival Dating
Movie times Calendar TV listings Movies/TV Music/Comedy Food Events Hey, Barkeep Bars/Clubs Blogs AZNB Radio Local bands Video
Reviews Inspections Food blog Coupons
Today's Search recent Submit an obit Newsletter Tributes
Go Back
Print this story
Letter to the editor
Discuss
More Updates:Tucson voters soundly reject Prop. 200 (9:35 p.m.)Tucson City Council: Uhlich, Fimbres lead; Ward 6 tight (8:50 p.m.)Early results look grim for TUSD override measures (9:30 p.m.)Most Pima County school district ballot measures strugglingColorado ski town legalizes potGOP sweep: Big governor victories in Virginia, NJGay-marriage vote is too close to call in MaineSome notable races and measures on state ballots (9:05 p.m.)Wildfire burning southwest of ArivacaPuzzle Pieces blog: No more Aspergers Syndrome?Tucson jury to decide fate of man who killed girlfriend, her kids in 1984Shooting in central Tucson leaves one man deadSierra Vista woman killed crossing highwayPair reach plea deal in Tucson home-invasion caseTucson court-martial begins for airman accused in colleague's killingFired Tucson city manager lands Pima County jobNo more Yes Thrift store for Tucson bargain huntersAnimal control remove cats from home on Tucson's west sideBLOG: UA homecoming party host shares humorous memoriesMan struck leaving Tucson hospital last week has diedTucson police: Man tries to run down wife with truck, attempts suicideBLOG: McCallum leaves UA impressedTUSD claims that ethnic studies improve test scores disputedTucsonans offer support/advice in the battle to lose weightToday's Tucson speed camera scheduleToday's interactive map of crime in TucsonTucson gas-price tracker: StarNet helps you save at the pumpPair accused of stealing luggage from Phoenix Sky HarborPhoenix man arrested for letting kids play with fire, 2 hospitalizedFormer Phoenix Suns player diesBody count at Ohio rapist's home rises to 10Miller says Wise questionable for Augustana game, Horne to startStocks slip despite Buffett deal for Burlington RRPolice: 3 ND college softball players found dead in pondAuthorities locate vehicle sought in nun's deathMadoff's longtime auditor pleads guiltyLawmakers seek ban on laptops in airliner cockpitsGlobal wages falling this year, UN saysSniper attorneys plan to appeal to US high courtBuses, subways halted by Philly transit strikeMass. town puts limits on cat ownershipPa. woman, daughter hold signs admitting theft from girl (w/photos)Motorized recliner in Minn. DUI case for sale again on eBayRihanna: Brown's assault, aftermath 'humiliating'Mom of Yankees' Chamberlain faces prison for drugsCBS sportscaster Nantz must pay ex-wife $916,000 a year
Most Recent Tucson Traffic Incidents
N FREEWAY/W ST MARYS RD ,TUC TRAFFIC HAZARD 21:15
N COLUMBUS BL/E SPEEDWAY BL ,TUC ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES 20:17
S HOUGHTON RD/E RITA RD ,TUC ACCIDENT NO INJURY 18:00
8170 E 22 ST ,TUC ACCIDENT UNKNOWN INJURIES 17:50
4302 E GRANT RD ,TUC DRUNK DRIVER STOPPED 17:38
N ALVERNON WY/E GLENN ST ,TUC ACCIDENT UNKNOWN INJURIES 15:24
29/9 ACCIDENT UNKNOWN INJURIES 14:54
updated every 5 minutes - incidents provided by transview.org
Sales and Marketing
Davis Kitchens
Cabinet Sales Administrative & Professional
City of Benson
Planning & Zoning Director
Hourly Update
Gay-marriage vote is too close to call in Maine
By Glenn Adams and David Crary
The Associated Press
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 forecast. With 229 of 608 precincts reporting, each side had 50 percent.
A vote to uphold the law would mark the first time that the electorate in any state endorsed gay marriage. That could energize activists nationwide and blunt conservative claims that same-sex marriage is being foisted on states by judges or lawmakers over the will of the public.
However, repeal -- in New England, the region of the country most supportive of gay couples -- would be another heartbreaking defeat for the marriage-equality movement, following the vote against gay marriage in California a year ago.
It would also mark the first time voters had torpedoed a gay-marriage law enacted by a legislature. When Californians rejected same-sex marriage, it was in response to a court ruling, not legislation.
Maine's secretary of state, Matthew Dunlap, said turnout seemed higher than expected for an off-year election and voter interest appeared intense. Even before Tuesday, more than 100,000 people -- out of about 1 million registered voters -- had voted by absentee ballot or early voting.
Five other states have legalized gay marriage -- Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut -- but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular vote. In contrast, constitutional amendments banning gay marriage have been approved in all 30 states where they have been on the ballot.
"If we don't win, then Maine will have its place in infamy because no state has ever voted for homosexual marriage," said Chuck Schott of Portland, who stood near a polling place in Maine's biggest city with a pro-repeal campaign sign.
Another Portland resident, Sarah Holman said she was "very torn" but decided -- despite her conservative upbringing -- to vote in favor of letting gays marry.
"They love and they have the right to love. And we can't tell somebody how to love," said Holman, 26.
Hundreds of gay-marriage supporters gathered in a Portland hotel ballroom in the evening to await the results. On display was a three-tiered wedding cake topped with two grooms on one side, two brides on the other, and the words "We All Do."
In addition to reaching out to young people who flocked to the polls for President Barack Obama a year ago, gay-marriage defenders tried to appeal to Maine voters' independent streak -- a Yankee spirit of fairness and live-and-let-live.
The other side based many of its campaign ads on claims -- disputed by state officials -- that the new law would mean "homosexual marriage" would be taught in public schools.
Both sides in Maine drew volunteers and contributions from out of state, but the money edge went to the campaign in defense of gay marriage, Protect Maine Equality. It raised $4 million, compared with $2.5 million for Stand for Marriage Maine.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, voters in Washington state decided whether to uphold or overturn a recently expanded domestic partnership law that entitles same-sex couples to the same state-granted rights as heterosexual married couples. And in Kalamazoo, Mich., voters approved a measure that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Among other ballot items across the country:
-- Maine voters defeated a measure that would have limited state and local government spending by holding it to the rate of inflation plus population growth. A similar measure was on the ballot in Washington state.
-- Another measure in Maine, headed for approval, would allow dispensaries to supply marijuana to patients for medicinal purposes. It is a follow-up to a 1999 measure that legalized medical marijuana but did not set up a distribution system.
-- In Ohio, partial results were too close to call on a measure that would allow casinos in four major cities: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.
David Crary reported from New York.
0 Comments on this story
Get Arizona Daily Star home delivery and SAVE BIG!
Print this story
Letter to the editor
Discuss
I thought this page was interesting because:
| re:0.63 st:0.02 fo:0 s:0.01 d:0.05 c:0.13 db:0.197 a:0.67 m:0.29 t:7.09 (f) |
| ![:-] Bot! - home](/bot/images/dsbotface1.gif ":-] Bot! - home")
