Turnout low on spending issues

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Five of the six bond issues on Tuesday’s ballot won with comfortable margins based on unofficial results, but only about one in every four Mainers who were eligible to vote bothered to go to the polls.

The only borrowing proposal that struggled was the one to provide $5 million for biomedical research facilities.

With 93 percent of the state’s 661 precincts reporting to the Bangor Daily News, Question 2 was winning with 52.6 percent of voters in favor and 47.4 percent against.

Voter turnout – at 25 percent of eligible voters – was well below the 29 percent average for an off-year election, when no statewide candidates are on the ballot. Turnout ranged from a low of 17 percent in Somerset County to a high of 30 percent in Cumberland County.Those numbers were disappointing to Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky, who had hoped turnout would at least reach average levels.

“I am always disappointed when we get less than 100 percent, which we never can get,” he said. “We did see some spikes in those areas, like Portland where there were local races and referendum to get the interest of voters.”

Portland had a non-binding advisory referendum on universal health care, and some precincts had high turnouts usually only seen during years when a governor or United States senator are elected.

“That’s because it was an issue that people care about,” said Colby College Government professor Sandy Maisel. “Nobody cares about bond issues.”

The lack of a statewide race was one reason for the low turnout, according to Bowdoin College professor Chris Potholm. He said another was the lack of any issues before the voters.

“We usually have at least one referendum question,” he said. “But this election there are just the bonds and borrowing does not excite folks to go to the polls.”

Gwadosky had suggested that patriotic fervor following the terrorist attacks would result in more voters going to the polls. That did not happen.

“I really didn’t understand that,” Potholm said, referring to Gwadosky’s suggestion. “I mean we didn’t have a referendum on Osama Bin Laden so people could vote against him.”

Maisel said bond issues are too important to be decided by so few voters. He said the Legislature should consider amending the state Constitution to require bonds, and all referenda, be voted on in even numbered years.

“It is a travesty of democracy to have such important issues decided by so few voters,” he said. “I wish they would allow them to be voted on only during a regular general election.”

Gwadosky disagreed. He said the idea is not “practical” and would likely be rejected by the Legislature.

“I don’t think it would work with the need to sell the bonds in a timely manner for construction projects,” he said.

Maisel said that argument is an “excuse, not a reason.” He said public officials and lawmakers should put democracy first.

In some areas, less than a fifth of eligible voters bothered to vote. One of those who skipped voting this year was Beth Macias, manager of a downtown computer store in Bangor, who said she reserves trips to the polls for presidential elections.

“I don’t feel like chiming in when I don’t know what the issues are,” said the 23-year-old. “I don’t think there’s enough said about these smaller elections, not enough hoopla.”

Among those who did vote, there were concerns about the worsening economy. Niman Karam, who votes every year “unless there’s a death in the family,” said in the midst of the economic downturn, it was not wise for the state to spend more of the taxpayer’s money.

“Everybody’s got to hunker down,” the 39-year-old businessman said, after he voted against all but one of the borrowing proposals. “I’d like to be a nice guy and give everybody everything they want, and I know they are all good causes, but I don’t feel we need to be spending a lot of money on some of these things right now.”

But it appears that most Mainers who bothered to vote felt the bonds were a worthy investment.

Question 1

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Yes 57.9% 120,507

No 42.1% 87,623

Question 2

BIOMEDICAL-MARINE RESEARCH

Yes 52.6% 108,991

No 47.4% 98,165

Question 3

HIGHWAYS-TRANSPORTATION

Yes 74.1% 153,507

No 25.9% 53,771

Question 4

REPAIRS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Yes 68.7% 143,112

No 31.3% 65,217

Question 5

POLLUTION CONTROLS

Yes 64.9% 134,528

No 35.1% 72,756

Question 6

UNIVERSITIES-LEARNING CENTERS

Yes 57.8% 119,060

No 42.2% 86,863

618 OUT OF 661 PRECINCTS REPORTING

25% VOTER TURNOUT