High voter turnout is a hallmark of democracy, especially in Maine.

The state led the nation in the percentage of voting-age adults casting ballots for president in 1992 and 1996 and came in second place in 2000, with a turnout just more than 67 percent. Maine’s high water mark came in 1992 when a whopping 72 percent of those eligible voted.

That impressive dedication to voting is hard to match, especially in off-year elections. Participation drops down to around 50 percent when the state votes for members of Congress. And in June, when a bond question topped the statewide ballot, only 113,860 voters came out – about 11 percent or one in six of those who voted for president.

We’re not likely to match 1992, but today’s election is expected to draw substantial numbers to the polls.

In casual conversation and heated debate, the word “right” is often tossed around. The “right” to smoke, to drive, to not be hassled by telemarketers, we hear about them all. But the most fundamental of all our rights is voting. It is the affirmation of our system of governance, and the ultimate expression of the will of the people.

Today, every person in the state has an obligation to step forward and make his or her voice heard. We will decide today whether to change forever the landscape of Maine, whether to allow a resort casino to be built, whether to allow thousands of slot machines at commercial race tracks, whether to change the tax and budgetary structure and whether to borrow millions of dollars for clean water, higher education and transportation infrastructure.

The decisions are yours to make. Take the time, put forth the effort and cast your ballot today. Tomorrow, it’ll be too late.

Endorsements, one more time:

On Question 1, voters should reject both the citizens’ initiative and the counter measure and, instead, choose option 1C, neither of the above. Question 1A forces a crisis for state government by shifting about $246 million a year of education spending from local government to the state, which could force increased taxes or cuts in other programs. Question 1B, which is supported by the governor and two-thirds of the Legislature, takes a more gradual approach to funding education. Neither guarantees reduced property tax bills. Neither should pass.

Question 2 would allow an unlimited number of slot machines to be installed at commercial race tracks in the state. While promising money to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and scholarships for Maine students, Question 2 is really about allowing an expansion of gambling in the state. Harness racing and agricultural fairs would receive financial support from the slots, but the majority of the revenue, to the tune of 75 percent, would go to license holders. Not the state, not the racing industry and not seniors. Voters should vote no.

It’s hard to imagine anyone who hasn’t been saturated with information about the proposed resort casino. But for the uninitiated, here goes. Question 3 would allow the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy Indian tribes to build a $650 million casino, probably in Sanford. The casino could create as many as 5,000 jobs and provide $100 million a year in gaming taxes to the state every year. The deal can’t be changed for 20 years and the law is long, complex and ambiguous. Voters should reject Question 3 and demand that the Legislature and the governor negotiate a better deal to bring a casino to Maine.

Questions 4, 5 and 6 ask voters to approve bonds for higher education, clean water and transportation infrastructure. The new debt is manageable and helps repair the state’s aging infrastructure. The bond money is also necessary to attract more than $210 million in matching federal money for projects in the state. Vote yes on all three.


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