The signatures are in: Maine is going back to the ballot for marriage
Feb 23, 2012 at 08:55 pm
It's official: we're on the ballot in Maine! Today, Maine's Secretary of State Charlie Summers confirmed that marriage supporters have submitted more than enough valid signatures to allow a ballot measure this November that would extend marriage to gay and lesbian couples. A coalition of LGBT and allied organizations, led by EqualityMaine and GLAD, submitted the signatures at the end of Januaryafter months of signature gathering and face-to-face conversations with thousands of voters across the state.
Reacting to today's good news, our National Campaign Director Marc Solomon released this statement:
“Over the past few years, marriage supporters have been talking to their friends, families, coworkers and neighbors about why marriage matters. As we work to win at the ballot, Freedom to Marry will be there every step of the way alongside Equality Maine, GLAD, and others to continue telling the stories of why marriage matters to loving, committed gay and lesbian couples in Maine, and secure a win at the ballot this November.”
For marriage legislation to become law, it would first have to be approved by voters, which is why Maine will be the first state to bring the freedom to marry to the ballot proactively.Freedom to Marry is fully committed to winning in Maine this November. We already have and will continue to offer strategic advising, staff time, and funding to the campaign.
For more on why Maine is pursuing marriage on the ballot, read Marc's op-ed from the Advocate Magazine last month.