Go Forth and Vote
11/3/09 | 8 comments
Editorial

Go Forth and Vote


Have the shortened days got to you? Lost the old pep? Can't get motivated? Try voting! There's no better way to reinvigorate the democratic-republic in you than to cast a vote for a worthy referendum or against one that didn't impress. Want another reason? Your neighbor, or maybe even your spouse, may have already voted and you don't want to be left out.

Voting is simple but important. If you're registered, you just need to show up at your local polling place. Your town office can tell you where that is if you have doubts. It couldn't hurt to bring identification, though you shouldn't need it. Not registered? Bring identification and head for town hall — you may be able to vote there as well. Even if there is a problem with your registration, you can still vote under Maine's challenged ballot law, so there's no reason to leave a polling place without having your say.

Don't know what the seven statewide ballot questions mean? Go to the Secretary of State's Web page (www.maine.gov/sos/) for answers.

Certainly, there's enough at stake to lift you from the torpor of endless campaign commercials and lengthy arguments over issues. The heated and expensive campaign on repealing the state’s gay marriage law or the debate over the Taxpayer Bill of Rights couldn't have escaped your notice. Don't simply burden your friends with your opinion — make it official at your local polling place. Haven't decided which way to go on the excise tax referendum or which council candidate to favor? It's not too late to work up an opinion.

Many of your friends and neighbors likely already have as this is shaping up to be a record year for absentee or early voting with no statewide candidates on the ballot. In 1999, state law was changed to allow any registered voter to vote by absentee ballot for any reason. Since then, the number of people voting early has steadily increased. Some communities, including Bangor, have set up polling places where voters could use absentee ballots to vote before today and they have been crowded.

This could also be a record year for participation in an off-year election. The Secretary of State predicts about 35 percent of registered voters will cast ballots this year. That would exceed the usual 15 percent to 20 percent, but would still be disappointing given the important issues on the ballot.

This year, about 122,000 absentee ballots have been requested, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. That’s a lot for an off-year election but far less than the nearly 250,000 requested in last year’s presidential election.It may be confusing to first-time voters, but there are only two things to remember: Votes are counted carefully in Maine so if you cast a ballot, it will matter; and there's no reason to leave a polling place without voting, no matter what the problem. (If, by the way, you make a mistake on a ballot, you can ask for another.)

Voting. What would Election Day be without it?

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Comments
8 comments on this item
On 11/3/09 at 12:41 AM, Shannon9A wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The reality is many gay couples have children and are helping society to raise the next generation. In many cases, they're raising children whose biological parents didn't want to or for whatever reason could not raise them themselves.

Right there, these couples qualify under the Yes' definition for the purpose of marriage and the state of Maine therefore does have a vested interest in protecting these families and the relationships of the parents.

VOTE NO ON ONE and extend the protections of marriage to ALL COMMITTED COUPLES RAISING CHILDREN!

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On 11/3/09 at 3:07 AM, YES_ON_1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The reality is many gay couples have children and are hurting society and the next generation.

In many cases, they're convincing children that their biological parents didn't want to or for whatever reason could not raise them themselves.

Right there, these couples do not qualify under the Yes' definition for the purpose of marriage and the state of maine therefore does not have a vested interest in protecting these families and the relationships of the parents.

VOTE YES ON ONE and extend the protections of marriage to ALL TRADITIONAL FAMILIES RAISING CHILDREN!!

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On 11/3/09 at 8:13 AM, ElectraGlide wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

((( Good Morning 4himtoday )))~~~~ (( Could ya do me a favor??))

(Could ya bring the Sun out today, Pretty Please !!! / You do Believe in Sun ?)

@ That sure would be nice for ALL of US / You know like in ALL @

>> Pretty Please / You self declared GOD <<

>> Did you hear 4himtoday / You Bigot / Thats supports Riligious Bigotry <<

&& My God for ALL Humans told me last night / Vote NO on #1 &&

>> That on election it was going to be a Nice and Sunny / a day for Freedom <<

## Heat Wave Day / a Vote No on # 1 Day / Independance Day ##

& God Bless ua All / On the Wings of A Snow White Dove he Brought his True Love &

>> That would include 4himtoday / On the Only JudgeMent Day <<

++ My God doesn`t exclude any Human / Not Today or Any other Day ++

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On 11/3/09 at 8:51 AM, HarryHSnyderIII wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yes on 4! It's time we made governmental officials see what living on a fixed budget is like. The money tree isn't baring fruit as it used to..

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On 11/3/09 at 9:01 AM, HarryHSnyderIII wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

YES_ON_1 wrote:

"The reality is many gay couples have children and are hurting society and the next generation."

"In many cases, they're convincing children that their biological parents didn't want to or for whatever reason could not raise them themselves."

'cuse me YES? do you have any idea what you are talking about? What really hurts society is that in this great and wealthy country, children are unwanted. Do yourself a favor, and go talk to children in our youth correctional facilities. Go find out why children stay at Shaw House. Ask a human services worker if Maine has unwanted children.

Gay couples raising children in a loving home is bad? Frankly YES, some Maine children would be better off raised by coyotes than by their natural parents. What exactly have you done for the unwanted children of Maine? Don't bother telling me,,, hiding behind your "YES" label you can claim anything... here's an idea; Prove it!

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On 11/3/09 at 11:38 AM, chersully2000 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

HarrySnyder: You are correct.. And of course you are addressing a troll there at 9:01 AM (with all the bigfeet,etc.....useless....)

There are many children in Maine and elsewhere who would benefit from being raised in a loving, nurturing family, regardless of the particular gender make-up ; there are many children that have grown up in unloving and abusive households with heterosexual parent(s). It is ridiculous to make some kind of generalization based on lack of evidence about gay famililes not being good or suitable for chiildren. Not true.

Voted NO on 1 to extend more protections and securities to more Maine families, many with children.

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On 11/3/09 at 3:55 PM, Rwolf01 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Wow, YES_ON_1, that was breathtaking. In your last minute attempt to find some reason, *any* reason, to rationalize your decision to be mean and spiteful at the polls, you just insulted every kind soul on the planet who has ever adopted a child.

Nice work.

It should be obvious to even you that there is one thing children in gay and lesbian household can be certain of: they are wanted and loved.

Please Vote No on 1. It is the kind, decent, understanding, and family-friendly thing to do.

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On 11/3/09 at 11:10 PM, Gopher wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

On 11/3/09 at 3:07 AM, YES_ON_1 wrote: Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The reality is many gay couples have children and are hurting society and the next generation.

In many cases, they're convincing children that their biological parents didn't want to or for whatever reason could not raise them themselves.

As pointed out previously, you're way off base YO1. Sounds like you're against adoption in general (surprising for someone who's probably also a prolifer). Sounds like you're the one who should never adopt.

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