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2009 Maine Question 1

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

Question 1: Citizen Initiative
November 3, 2009
People's Veto
An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 300,848 52.90%
No 267,828 47.10%
Total votes 568,676 100.00%

The outcome of the referendum was reversed three years later when voters approved 2012 Maine Question 1, which legalized same-sex marriage in the state again.

Legislation

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In January 2009, a bill called "An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom" was introduced in the Maine Legislature. The bill would legalize same-sex marriage and require Maine to recognize other same-sex marriages that were performed out of state. However, the bill also specifies that religious institutions would not be forced into performing same-sex marriages and could deny them if it comes into conflict with their beliefs.[1][2][3]

On April 30, 2009, the Maine Senate rejected an amendment to put the issue up for a voter referendum 22–13 and passed the bill 21–14.[4][5] On May 5, 2009, the Maine House of Representatives passed the bill 89–57,[6][7] and on the following day, Governor John Baldacci signed the bill into law to take effect 90 days thereafter.[8][9]

Ballot question efforts and fundraising

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On May 7, 2009, opponents of the law filed the necessary paperwork to launch a 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.[10] In June 2009, Stand for Marriage Maine, the coalition group leading the veto effort, announced it had hired Schubert Flint Public Affairs, which had worked on the Proposition 8 effort in California, to handle public relations for the veto effort.[11] 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 of the law had submitted a sufficient number of valid signatures and certified the ballot question for November.[12][13]

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), an anti-same-sex-marriage group, was the primary contributor to Stand For Marriage Maine, the organization that led the "yes on Question 1" campaign.[14] NOM contributed over $1.6 million to Stand For Marriage Maine; by reports as of October 2009, NOM had contributed 63% of that group's funding.[15][16]

Polling

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Question 1 asked: "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?" [17]

  • 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
September 14–16, 2009[18] Research 2000 600 48% 46% 6% ±4.0%
September 23–27, 2009[19] Democracy Corps 808 41% 50% 9% ±3.5%
September 30 – October 7, 2009[20] Pan Atlantic 401 42.9% 51.8% 5.3% ±4.9%
October 16–19, 2009[21] Public Policy Polling 1130 48% 48% 4% ±2.9%
October 20–22, 2009[22] Pan Atlantic 400 42% 53% 4% ±4.9%
October 26–28, 2009[23] Research 2000 600 47% 48% 5% ±4.0%
October 31 – November 1, 2009[24] Public Policy Polling 1133 51% 47% 2% ±2.9%

Results

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The referendum was held on November 3, 2009. Voting "Yes" on the referendum would repeal the law while voting "No" would uphold the law.[25] After the referendum ended, the results showed that 52.9% of voters voted yes on repealing the law while 47.1% of voters voted no.[17][26]

Question 1: People's Veto
An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom
Choice Votes %
  Yes 300,848 52.9
No 267,828 47.1
Total votes 568,676 100.00

Post-election

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Reactions from campaigns

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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."[27] The No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign conceded defeat two hours later.[28] Supporters of same-sex marriage pledged to continue the fight, while opponents said they would work to introduce a constitutional amendment to ban legal recognition of same-sex unions.[29]

Campaign finance lawsuits involving referendum proponents

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In 2009, the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices voted, 3–2, to investigate the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) for campaign finance violations; the Commission overrode the recommendation of their staff. Maine law required organizations soliciting more than $5,000 for ballot question campaigns to file disclosure reports.[30] NOM had contributed $1.6 million to Stand For Marriage Maine without filing any disclosure reports.[16] NOM filed suit, claiming that Maine's election laws violated the Constitution.[16][30] The suit was unsuccessful; the district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld the constitutionality of the challenged Maine election laws,[31] including the disclosure and reporting requirements for political action committees and ballot question committees.[32] The Supreme Court declined to hear further appeals from NOM.[33][34]

Separately, in 2014, the Commission issued a $50,250 fine to NOM,[35] after investigators determined that the national NOM organization "intentionally set up its fundraising strategy to avoid disclosure laws" when it solicited donations for the clear purpose of aiding the 2009 Maine campaign. The Commission instructed NOM to file a campaign finance disclosure form (which would include the names of donors).[36] NOM unsuccessfully appealed in the state courts, and in August 2015, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court denied NOM's attempt for a stay on releasing the list while its case against a prior Ethics Commission ruling was pending.[37][38] NOM paid the fine and disclosed its donors list that month.[38]

2012 referendum repealing 2009 referendum

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On November 6, 2012, another referendum was held on whether to legalize same-sex marriage[39] 53% of voters voted yes, thus overturning the 2009 Maine Question 1 referendum, and marking the first success for same-sex marriage in a ballot measure.[40]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bill would allow same-sex marriage in Maine
  2. ^ "Battle over gay marriage shifts to Maine". Reuters. 2009-01-14. Archived from the original on 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  3. ^ "An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom" (PDF). Maine State Legislature. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-07-05.
  4. ^ Miller, Kevin (2009-04-30). "State Senate backs gay-marriage bill". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  5. ^ Goodnough, Abby (2009-04-30). "Maine Senate Backs Same-Sex Marriage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2014-11-19. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  6. ^ Harrison, Judy (2009-05-05). "Maine House passes gay marriage bill". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  7. ^ "Maine takes step toward approving gay marriage". Reuters. 2009-05-05. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  8. ^ Yvonne Abraham (2009-05-06). "Gay marriage law signed in Maine, advances in N.H". Boston.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  9. ^ "Latest News: Office of Governor Paul LePage". www.maine.gov. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  10. ^ "People's Veto Drive Initiated". Wabi.tv. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  11. ^ "Maine gay marriage foes hire Calif. Prop 8 firm". Guardian. 2009-06-18. Archived from the original on 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  12. ^ Miller, Kevin (2009-09-02). "Gay marriage repeal on ballot". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  13. ^ "People's Veto of Bill to Allow Same-sex Marriage Certified by Secretary of State". 2009-10-23. Archived from the original on 2009-10-23. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  14. ^ Setback for Group Fighting Gay Marriage in Maine The New York Times, October 29, 2009
  15. ^ "Public Campaign Finance Page for the State of Maine". Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  16. ^ a b c "Money fueling battle over gay marriage". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  17. ^ a b "Maine Same-Sex Marriage People's Veto, Question 1 (2009)". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  18. ^ "ME-Init: Gay marriage all tied up, heading into November". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  19. ^ "Democracy Corps – Maine; Frequency Questionnaire" (PDF). 2009-10-07. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  20. ^ "Poll: 51.8% plan to vote no on question 1 | Maine News Updates". Updates.pressherald.mainetoday.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  21. ^ "Maine split on gay marriage question" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  22. ^ Swanson, Emily (2009-10-26). "Political Surveys and Election Polls, Trends, Charts and Analysis". Pollster.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  23. ^ "ME-Init: Still tied". Daily Kos. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  24. ^ "TABOR Going Down, Gay Marriage Still Close" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  25. ^ "Question ready for petition against gay marriage". Updates.mainetoday.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  26. ^ Goodnough, Abby (2009-11-04). "Gay Rights Rebuke May Change Approach". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  27. ^ "Same-sex marriage supporters concede defeat". Updates.pressherald.mainetoday.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  28. ^ "Fight goes on over marriage". Pressherald.com. 2010-03-04. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  29. ^ "Backers of same-sex marriage pledge to keep up Maine fight". The Boston Globe. 2009-11-07. Archived from the original on 2009-11-07. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  30. ^ a b Kevin Miller (October 28, 2009). "Anti-gay marriage group sues state". Bangor Daily News.
  31. ^ "First Circuit Rules Against Anti-gay Marriage Group in Campaign-Finance Suits". Wall Street Journal. August 12, 2011.
  32. ^ National Organization for Marriage, Inc. v. McKee, 649 F.3d 34 (1st Cir. 2011) (NOM I); National Organization for Marriage, Inc. v. McKee, 669 F.3d 34 (1st Cir. 2012) (NOM II).
  33. ^ "No High Court Review of Maine Election Reforms". Courthouse News Service. January 31, 2012.
  34. ^ Long, Robert (October 1, 2012). "U.S. Supreme Court rejects anti-gay marriage group's appeal of Maine's donor disclosure law". Bangor News. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  35. ^ Steve Mistler, Maine ethics panel ratifies fine against anti-gay marriage group, Press-Herald (June 25, 2014).
  36. ^ Alanna Durkin (May 28, 2014). "Maine fines national anti-gay marriage group". Associated Press News.
  37. ^ National Organization for Marriage v. Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices, 121 A.3d 792 (Me. 2015).
  38. ^ a b Cousins, Christopher (August 24, 2015). "National Organization for Marriage files 2009 donors list". Maine Sun Journal. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  39. ^ "Secretary of State Announces the Order of November Ballot Questions". www.maine.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  40. ^ Fetters, Ashley (2012-11-07). "Same-Sex Marriage Wins on the Ballot for the First Time in American History". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
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