Voting on four statewide ballot questions Nov. 8, Lincoln County residents overwhelmingly favored Election Day voter registration, rejected two racinos and a casino and approved an amendment to the state constitution.
On Question 1, Lincoln County voters approved a People’s Veto petition 7410 to 4999, rejecting a new law that would have required prospective voters to register at least two business days prior to an election.
Debate on the question largely split along party lines. Republicans characterized the law as an effort to tighten security and clamp down on potential voter fraud. Democrats argued it was an attempt to disenfranchise college students and other voters who tend to use same-day registration and support non-Republican candidates and issues.
On Question 2, Lincoln County voted 5194 yes and 7198 no, refusing to allow one slot machine facility within 25 miles of Scarborough Downs and another at a harness racing track in Washington County.
On Question 3, the vote was even more decided against approving a casino with table games and slot machines in Lewiston: 4243 voters favored the measure, 8142 opposed.
Supporters of the two gambling questions argued the facilities promised several thousand short term construction jobs and more than 1000 permanent jobs, as well as attracting a significant amount of out-of-state and Canadian money.
Gambling opponents claimed that a variety of crime and other social ills typically increase in communities surrounding casinos and argued that casinos represent a de facto tax on individuals with less education and lower incomes, because individuals in these categories are statistically much more likely to spend money at casinos.
Question 4, a measure approving a minor change to the state constitution passed 6310-5436.
The approval allows Maine’s Legislature to redraw its state, federal and county political districts the year following the completion of the U.S. Census beginning in 2021.
The amendment was sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats and passed the legislature with bipartisan support.
In local referendum questions, voters in Newcastle (401 yes, 350 no) and Damariscotta (453 yes, 317 no) rejected a petition calling for the end of the practice of adding fluoride to the Great Salt Bay’s Sanitary District’s water supply.
Opponents cited a bevy of statistics and facts in their favor but the area’s medical community came out strongly against the measure.
In Wiscasset, voters overwhelmingly favored formally beginning to evaluate the process of withdrawal from RSU 12, approving the non-binding referendum question 917-220. Voters also approved appropriating the sum of $5000 from impact fees to cover capital expenses for the Wiscasset Wastewater System.
Results from Waldoboro’s local articles were not available as of this posting.
