Maine second in nation in voter turnout

AUGUSTA – The good-natured rivalry between the governors of Maine and Minnesota continued to evolve Wednesday after both states secured the top two slots in national voter turnout ratings.

Gov. Angus King, a political independent and Gov. Jesse Ventura, who represents Minnesota’s Independence Party, had discussed the prospects for which state would claim the distinction of posting the highest voter turnout in the presidential election. Both states have traditionally had large turnouts.

According to the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, 68.75 percent of all Minnesotans cast ballots on Nov. 7 to claim the first-place spot. Maine came in second with 67.34 percent. The CSAE based its figures on the percentage of the voting-age population casting ballots in last month’s election. The national average for voter turnout was 53.76 percent.

Although King and Ventura did not make an actual wager on which state would get bragging rights on voter turnout, both signed an unusual joint proclamation urging voters everywhere to get to the polls.

King said Tuesday, a newspaper writer had suggested the two governors make a wager that would have required Ventura to become a lawyer if he lost and King to shave his head if the Minnesota governor had won.

King said he never would have taken the bet. “I was afraid to make that wager for fear that people would stay away from the polls just to see that happen to me,” he joked.

Coming in second in national voter turnout was no small achievement, according to Maine Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky, who said the state’s residents have a long tradition of participation in the democratic process.

The close presidential race and compelling state referendum questions were among the chief factors leading to the state’s high turnout, Gwadosky said.

“I’m proud of our state’s outstanding participation in this year’s election,” he said. “This could not have been accomplished without the dedication of the municipal officials with whom my department works closely in conducting statewide elections,” Gwadosky said.

King said he didn’t think it would be right to wager with Ventura over voter turnout. But he added that since Minnesota won, the least he could do is show that Mainers can be good sports.

“We’ll get him next time,” the governor said. “But maybe I’ll send him a lobster dinner. Even though there wasn’t a wager, I can still congratulate Jessie with an appropriate tasty Maine crustacean.”