Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
Election Day is Tuesday, and although there are no major offices, state or national, on Maine’s ballot this year, there is a controversial question that voters will have to decide on.
Question 1 on the ballot is a referendum concerning sexual orientation. The question asks citizens whether they want to reject the new law that would protect people from discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit based on their sexual orientation. To many groups, including groups on campus, the question is one that voters cannot afford to take lightly.
The ‘No’ on 1 campaign has rallied support in favor of rejecting the law. Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono, said she is going to vote ‘no’ on Question 1 and encouraged students to do the same. She said that the other six questions are important as well.
“My hope is that students will recognize the opportunity here to play a role in so many issues all at once,” Cain said. “This year, it’s all about issues and a variety of issues at that. This ballot deals with nondiscrimination, transportation funding, job growth, the environment, working waterfront and more.”
Questions 2 through 6 are bond issues, while Question 7 is a constitutional amendment. Cain said she is planning on voting ‘yes’ on questions 2 through 7. She also said she knows how difficult it is for people to get to the polls during an off-election year.
“The student vote is vital any time we go to the polls,” said Cain. “If students do not vote, it means their voice is not being heard and pollsters and politicians can continue to marginalize their value in the political process.”
Cain said she believes that students have already shown a great amount of interest in voting.
“UMaine Won’t Discriminate, which works to educate students about the importance of voting ‘no’ on Question 1 to preserve Maine’s recently passed equal rights law, has over 50 coalition partners,” said Cain. “These are other organizations on campus who have said that voting ‘no’ on 1 on Nov. 8 is priority for them.”
Matthew Small is the head of the Maine Won’t Discriminate campaign. He is a graduate of the University of Maine. He said he believes the numerous groups on campus that have helped the effort have meant a lot to the campaign.
“We have a lot of student volunteers who have agreed to take off from classes to get out the vote and help us end discrimination in Maine,” said Small.
He said he saw similar legislation fail before, but he has faith that students can make the difference this time around.
“I’m just really excited for these last few days,” said Small. “It’s a matter of getting to the polls.”
Cain said UMaine will gain funding in areas of research and development, if questions 3 and 4 pass.
“Each question appeals to voters in a different way,” said Cain, who is in her first term in the legislature. “My hope is that students will be at least somewhat educated about what’s on the ballot this year. If they are, they’ll have plenty of reasons to head to the polls.”
A student living on campus is eligible to vote as a citizen of Orono, even if that student is from another state. The campus voting site for students will be held in the Multi-purpose Room of Memorial Union, and students can register just prior to voting.
“The student voter turnout on any voting day is important to me,” Cain said, “but I am personally hopeful that we’ll see higher on-campus turnout this year than we have in other issue-only ballot years. The impact that student turnout will have on the issues won’t be known until all ballots are counted.”
Students can register prior to election day at the Town Office. To register students must have a form of ID and driver’s license.
“I hope that students know about their right to vote if they live on campus,” said Small, “even if they’re from out of state.”
Small also said that the dean of students has sent every student a postcard that they can use as a second form of ID when they go to register to vote on Tuesday.
“No one should be turned away at the polls,” said Small.
Students living in Orono will vote at the Town office next to the fire station. Students who live in Old Town will vote at the American Legion Hall, located at the corner of Fourth Street and Main Street.
Maine is one of the few states that allows same-day voter registration. Most states have a deadline by which residents are required to register, in order to vote in the upcoming election. Deadlines are usually a month to two months in advance of Election Day.
Mainers also have been voting for several weeks now. Students and other citizens can continue to vote absentee until election day.
Students living in Orono and Old Town will also see candidates running for local town office. There are three seats up for grabs on the Old Town City Council – one is being vacated by Alan Stormann, who is retiring after serving two terms since 1998 on the City Council.
Stormann, who works for campus public safety, is also head of Parking Services.
