LEWISTON —Two racino projects will join the Lewiston slot parlor proposal now before the state Legislature.

On Friday, Secretary of State Charles Summers announced that enough valid signatures had been submitted to place “An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Deadline and Conditions for Municipal Approval of a Second Racino and To Allow a Tribal Racino in Washington County” before the Legislature. The nontribal racino included in this petition would be located in Biddeford.

“After an exhaustive review, we have determined that 75,672 signatures on the petition are valid,” Summers said.

According to a press release issued by Summers’ office, proponents were required to gather at least 57,277 valid signatures, 10 percent of the total vote for governor cast in the last gubernatorial election preceding the filing of the petition. Of the 87,655 signatures submitted, 11,993 signatures were determined to be invalid. 

If the Legislature does not approve the measure without change, it will appear as a ballot question on the Nov. 8 ballot, allowing Maine voters to determine its passage.

On Feb. 4, the secretary of state certified the Lewiston proposal, titled “An Act Regarding Establishing a Slot Machine Facility,” to allow the citizen initiative to be considered by Maine lawmakers.


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