Petitioners ready to confront voters on Election Day Drive is on for 2003 ballot questions

PORTLAND – Maine’s polling places will be crowded Tuesday – and not just with voters.

Referendum drive workers will be at polling places across the state Election Day to gather signatures for petitions calling for ballot questions on tax reform, gambling and, possibly, hunting.

While Maine has a long history of citizen-initiated referendums, it is unusual to have so many signature drives going on simultaneously. At some polling places, voters could be asked to sign as many as five petitions.

“People could get writer’s cramp signing petitions,” said Ray Richardson of Citizens for a Strong Maine Economy, which is spearheading a tax-reform referendum drive.

Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn said the referendum drives are also unusual because five were filed with her office in just the past month or so.

“We’ve had that many applications in a year, but this is the first time we’ve had so many in such a short amount of time before the election,” she said.

Carol Palesky, head of the Maine Taxpayers Action Network, said one reason there are three tax-related referendums is that people are simply fed up with high taxes.

“I’ve never seen so many people so angry,” she said.

Palesky’s proposal would cap personal property tax rates, while another sponsored by the Maine Municipal Association would force the state to pay 55 percent of the costs of public education to shift the burden from local property taxes to the state. The third tax-related initiative, backed by Richardson’s group, would lower taxes and mandate voter approval for future tax increases.

Of the two gambling referendums, one would allow slot machines at horse racing tracks and the other would allow an Indian-owned casino and resort in southern Maine.

A sixth referendum would make it illegal to bring animals into Maine for use on commercial large-game shooting areas. Critics say enclosed game ranches amount to “canned hunting.”

To get the questions on next year’s Nov. 4 ballot, referendum organizers have to collect an estimated 50,000-plus signatures – at least 10 percent of the votes cast in today’s gubernatorial election – by Jan. 23.

Palesky said her group already has collected about 25,000 signatures and will be at polling places in more than 100 towns and cities, while Richardson’s organization will be at more than 80 polling places. The Maine Municipal Association will be in more than 100 municipalities, where it expects to collect more than 50,000 votes, said spokesman Michael Starn.

Think About It, a pro-casino political action committee, will be at more than 100 polling places. And workers for a referendum to allow slot machines at Bangor Raceway and Scarborough Downs horse-racing tracks are expected at more than 75 polling places.

Organizers of the referendum to ban the importing of animals for commercial game shooting areas could not be reached to determine whether they’ll collect signatures Tuesday.

Erin Lehane, spokeswoman for Think About It, said the large number of referendum drives – particularly the three tax-related ones – will probably perplex some voters. But she thinks the casino referendum is distinct enough that people won’t confuse it with other referendums.

“It’s going to be crowded,” she said. “People are going to be confused. I certainly expect that.”

Two proposed referendums filed with the secretary of state won’t have any signatures drives.

Don Christen, head of the Maine Vocals pro-marijuana group, filed initiatives in June for ballot questions to expand the legal uses of marijuana.

One question would expand the current medical marijuana law, including setting up marijuana outlets across the state. The other would allow hemp to be grown for use in agriculture and industry and to make hemp products.

Christen said he won’t be collecting any signatures because his organization doesn’t have enough money or volunteers for a petition drive.