Maine Question 1, 2009

Maine Question 1 was a voter referendum conducted in Maine in 2009 that repealed a state law that legalized same-sex marriage in the state. The measure passed 53%-47% on November 3, 2009.

State law in question

In April 2009, a bill to allow same-sex couples to legally marry in Maine was introduced in the Maine Legislature. The bill reached the full Senate, where an amendment to put the issue up for a voter referendum was rejected 22-13. On April 30, 2009, the Senate passed the bill 20-15.^[1] On May 5, 2009, the Maine House of Representatives passed the bill 89-57, and on the following day, Gov. John Baldacci signed the bill into law to take effect 90 days thereafter.^[2]

People's veto campaign

On May 7, 2009, opponents of the law filed the necessary paperwork to launch a people's veto campaign to put the law up for a vote in the November elections, giving them until 90 days after the legislature adjourned to collect at least 55,087 valid signatures to put the measure on the ballot.^[3] In June 2009, Stand for Marriage Maine, the coalition group leading the veto effort, announced it had hired Schubert Flint Public Affairs to handle public relations for the veto effort; Schubert Flint had worked on the Proposition 8 effort in California.^[4] Meanwhile, in July 2009, No on 1/Protect Maine Equality was formed to oppose the veto. On September 2, 2009, the Secretary of State of Maine verified that the opponents had turned in enough valid signatures; the repeal effort was officially placed on the ballot.^[5]

Polling

Question 1 will ask: "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?"

• A Yes vote takes away the ability of same-sex couples to marry.
• A No vote keeps the ability of same-sex couples to marry.

Date of opinion poll	Conducted by	Sample size (likely voters)	Yes	No	Undecided	Margin of Error
14-16 September 2009[6]	Research 2000	600	48%	46%	6%	±4.0%
23-27 September 2009[7]	Democracy Corps	800	41%	50%	9%	±3.5%
30 September-7 October 2009[8]	Pan Atlantic	401	42.9%	51.8%	5.3%	±4.9%
16-19 October 2009[9]	Public Policy Polling Maine	1130	48%	48%	4%	±2.9%
20-22 October 2009[10]	Pan Atlantic	400	42%	53%	4%	±4.9%
26-28 October 2009[11]	Research 2000	600	47%	48%	5%	±4.0%
31 October-1 November 2009[12]	Public Policy Polling Maine	1133	51%	47%	2%	±2.9%

Results

The question posed on the ballot was, "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?" A vote of "Yes" would repeal the law, while a vote of "No" would uphold the law.^[13] The vote was held on November 3, 2009.

Question 1
Choice	Votes	Percentage
Yes	300,848	52.9%
No	267,828	47.1%
Total votes	568,676	100.00%

Post-election

Just after midnight on election night, consultant Frank Schubert of Stand for Marriage Maine declared, "The institution of marriage has been protected in Maine and across this nation."^[14] The No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign conceded defeat two hours later.^[15] Supporters of same-sex marriage pledged to continue the fight, while opponents said they would work to introduce a constitutional amendment to keep marriage between one man and one woman.^[15]

References

1. ^ Maine Senate passes same-sex marriage bill
2. ^ Gay marriage law signed in Maine, advances in N.H.
3. ^ People's Veto Drive Initiated
4. ^ Maine gay marriage foes hire Calif. Prop 8 firm
5. ^ Fate of Maine gay marriage law in hands of voters
6. ^ [1]
7. ^ [2]
8. ^ [3]
9. ^ [4]
10. ^ [5]
11. ^ [6]
12. ^ [7]
13. ^ Question ready for petition against gay marriage
14. ^ Same-sex marriage supporters concede defeat
15. ^ ^{a b} Fight goes on over marriage

See also

• Same-sex marriage in Maine
• Same-sex marriage in the United States