AUGUSTA – With no primaries or major offices on the ballot, Tuesday’s election stands to be an overlooked event for many voters. But Maine’s chief election official says that even though only two questions appear on the statewide ballot, a lot’s at stake.

“I think a lot of people think, ‘Oh, it’s just a bond issue,”‘ Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said. But the bond issues are no less important than races for elective offices, he said, adding that bonds are major public policy issues that take considerable time to develop and debate in the Legislature.

The June 12 election will also feature something new for the state: It’s the first in which a database of the voters in all of Maine’s municipalities will be up and running, the secretary of state’s office said.

In the previous election in November, 75 percent of the municipalities’ voters were listed in the Central Voter Registry, whose purpose is to prevent people from voting more than once.

Maine’s June 12 ballot will include two bond issues seeking a total of $131 million in long-term borrowing. The first proposes nearly $113 million for highways and other transportation improvements, and the second asks for $18.3 million in borrowing for drinking water programs and wastewater treatment facilities.

Even though the two bonds have the potential to unlock over $310 million dollars in additional federal and matching funds, Dunlap acknowledged Tuesday’s election hasn’t drawn much attention.

But he cautions nonparticipating voters to take nothing for granted.

“Don’t assume it’s just going to pass if you want it, or it’s not going to if you don’t want it,” said Dunlap.

Many municipalities and school districts across the state will hold elections for local offices and issues on Tuesday.

In Portland, for example, voters will decide whether the city should spend an additional $1 million to move the city library’s main branch into the former Portland Public Market.

And in one central Maine legislative district, voters will fill the House of Representatives seat vacated by the death in April of Rep. Abigail Holman, a Republican from Fayette.

The House District 83 seat pits Democrat Deane Jones of Mount Vernon against Republican Penelope Morrell of Belgrade. The district also includes the towns of Manchester and Vienna.

In June voting in even-numbered years, voters across the state get to select candidates in contested primaries, which ratchets turnout toward 50 percent of the voting age public, Dunlap said last week.

But in odd-numbered years like this, when there are few TV and radio commercials goading people to vote one way or the other, participation slips on Election Day to the 15 percent range, the secretary said.

Dunlap’s case for voter participation, no matter how lackluster the ballot seems, is seconded by advocates for the top bond issue on the ballot.

Maria Fuentes, executive director of the Maine Better Transportation Association, said passage of the top question is “the quickest way to move our economy forward.”

The president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce said the transportation bond will support 8,000 jobs, many with high-paying salaries.

“Our roads and bridges are deteriorating and are in the worse shape they have been in years, due in part to the age or our system and to rising construction inflation,” added chamber President Dana Connors.

A pro-Question 1 commercial carrying the same message has been appearing on TV, but no organized opposition has surfaced.

The $113 million transportation bond includes $100 million for highways and bridges, and nearly $13 million in marine, rail, trail, aviation and transit projects.

The $18.3 million clean water bonds includes $14.9 million for municipal loans and grants to build, repair or improve wastewater treatment facilities, and $3.4 million to construct and upgrade public drinking water systems.

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On the Net:

Secretary of State: www.maine.gov/sos

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