Mirroring statewide results, locals reject voter ID, approve red flag law

Off-year election draws high voter turnout

Stonington election warden Donna Brewer. Photo by Jenna Lookner.

By Jenna Lookner

Mainers turned out across the state to vote on two statewide ballot measures, as well as a smattering of local issues in some communities.

Voter turnout was robust nationwide and across Maine. The greater Blue Hill Peninsula region was no exception, with returns from all towns mirroring statewide results of the referendum questions. 

Question 1 was a citizen’s initiative, asking Mainers whether they wanted to require photo identification to vote, as well as imposing limitations on absentee voting. The measure failed statewide with only 36.7 percent of voters voting to approve the measure, according to The Associated Press. 

Voters delivered a resounding “yes” on Question 2, a referendum that asked Mainers to pass a “Red Flag Law” in response to the 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston and would allow family members, household members, and law enforcement to petition a court to issue an “Extreme Risk Protection Order” prohibiting individuals deemed to be at risk of causing harm from possessing dangerous weapons including firearms. The measure passed with 62.9 percent in favor, according to The Associated Press. 

Orland, Blue Hill, Surry, and Penobscot voted to begin the process of taking ownership of the Toddy Pond dam, whose current owners want to abandon the facility.

In Blue Hill, voters said no to allowing a recreational marijuana dispensary in town by a vote of 760 to 582. Voters declined to “opt-in” to a state law allowing adult-use recreational cannabis dispensaries at the ballot box after also passing a 180-day moratorium on recreational cannabis dispensaries via a floor vote, or show of hands, during an early morning special town meeting. 

Election staff in multiple towns remarked on the fast pace of the day and the exceptionally high turnout for an off-year election. 

“It’s been really good today,” said Stonington Town Clerk and Registrar Kathy Burton. “The time has just flown by.”

Burton said she was happy to see such a strong voter turnout with just two statewide ballot measures before Stonington voters. 

In Penobscot, voter turnout was so robust that town clerk Sally Bridges had to call the state to ask for permission to utilize unused absentee ballots as their ballot supply dwindled to just 50 remaining around mid-afternoon. The election drew 591 voters in a town of just 1,041 registered voters, or 57 percent. 

“Pretty darn good in an off year,” Bridges said of the turnout in Penobscot. 

Vote tallies by town on various issues, compiled by The Rising Tide/Associated Press.