A question on gay marriage is being
given credit for a higher than projected turnout in Maine, the AP
reported.
Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap
originally projected that slightly over a third (35%) of the state's
registered voters would turn out to vote on Tuesday. Today, Dunlap
revised that outlook, saying he believed the new figure was closer to
50%.
Maine's Question 1 asks voters to
affirm – or reject – a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers in
the spring.
Over 100,000 Mainers cast their votes
before polling places opened on Election Day, either by absentee
ballots or early voting, officials said.
While polling shows a tight contest,
gay marriage advocates are hopeful Maine will become the first state
to vote in their favor. Upholding the law in Maine could boost
efforts to legalize gay marriage in other states, including New York
and New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.