11:10 p.m.
With 75 percent of precincts reporting, voters today appeared to have:
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• Rejected a law eliminating same-day voter registration in Maine.
• Rejected proposed racinos in Biddeford and Washington County.
• Rejected a proposed casino in Lewiston.
• Given Michael Brennan the most votes for Portland mayor, but not enough to be declared victor. Ranked-choice counting will continue Wednesday.
• Approved spending $33 million to renovate the Cumberland County Civic Center.
• Approved spending $39 million to build a new middle school in Scarborough.
• Chosen challenger Alan Casavant over Mayor Joanne Twomey in Biddeford.
9:17 p.m.
Nearly half of Falmouth’s voters – 48 percent – turned out to cast ballots, according to the town.
Most town voters supported election-day voter registration, Question 1, and opposed both gambling questions, 2 and 3.
The unofficial tally was 2,362 to 1,667 on Question 1 (same-day voter registration); 1,593 to 2,434 on Question 2 (racinos in Biddeford and Washington County); and 1,145 to 2,883 on Question 3 (casino in Lewiston).
Falmouth voters supported Question 5, the Cumberland County Civi Center bond, 2,499 to 1,466.
Scarborough has one BIG turnout
8:31 p.m.
More than 50 percent of registered voters cast ballots in Scarborough today, according to the Town Clerk Tody Justice.
Justice, town clerk for the past 17 years, said more than half of the town’s 14,518 eligible voters had cast ballots at Scarborough High School an hour before the polls closed.
“I love it,” Justice said. “We were sitting in the office (Monday) saying maybe 5,000 or maybe 6,000. Isn’t that awesome?”
Scarborough voters, in addition to statewide referendum questions, are choosing four town councilors from a slate of six candidates and deciding whether to borrow $39 million to build a new Wentworth Intermediate School.
Justice said it seemed to be local issues driving the turn out. A bright sunny day didn’t hurt, although Justice said some of the biggest turnouts came on rainy days.
Secretary of State Charlie Summers said he witnessed the strong voter turnout in Scarborough as he traveled around to various polling places. Polling workers there told him the interest was driven by the $39 million school bond proposal.
“It seems that has really brought out quite a number of people,” he said.
Summers said there was steady turnout in many parts of the state. He held to his prediction of a 35 percent statewide turnout as voting wound down.
The busiest polling places were in areas directly affected by the gaming questions and potential expansion of casino-style gambling. The issue drove steady turnouts in York County and southern Cumberland County, in the Lewiston and in Washington County, he said.
Summers said there were no reports of disruptions or significant problems at the polls. “It all seemed to be running very very smoothly,” he said.
8:10 p.m.: Candidates battle down to the wire
Candidates fought down to the wire in Westbrook and other communities. Now the counting – and waiting – begins.
Both Westbrook mayoral candidates, Democrat Colleen Hilton and Republican Bruce Chuluda, were at the Westbrook Armory on Stroudwater Street, greeting voters as the polls near closing time.
Republicans will gather at the Frog and Turtle restaurant, while Democrats will be at Profenno’s as they await results.
8:02 p.m.: Hurry up and wait in Portland
At least some of the 15 candidates who want to be Portland’s elected mayor are in a final scramble to get out the votes. But they’ll probably get a good rest before they find out if the effort pays off.
The city’s ranked-choice voting means the winner will likely be declared tomorrow. It’s the first popular election of the city’s mayor in 88 years, and the opportunity attracted a healthy field of candidates, and then some.
On Tuesday, candidates frantically tried to secure as many votes as possible before the polls closed. At East End Community School, one of the polling locations, City Councilor Dave Marshall spent the day glued to his phone.
“I’m texting everyone I know,” said Marshal.
“Our focus at this point is to get our supporters to the polls,” said Ethan Strimling, a former state senator.
Many of the leading candidates said they expected to spend the day at City Hall Wednesday to watch the tallying and await the final results.
If there is no winner Tuesday night, the ballot counting will continue Wednesday in the State of Maine Room at City Hall. The public is welcome to watch the proceedings.
Gaming issues bring out voters
5:55 p.m.
Gambling questions continue to fuel a steady turnout at Maine polls as the after-work crowd now casts its votes.
“The casino issue was big in my mind,” said Chris Mills, 40, who voted in Freeport this afternoon.
It’s the eighth time in 11 years that Maine voters have cast ballots on whether to allow some type of casino-style gambling.
One referendum question today asks whether to allow horse racetracks with slot machines, known as racinos, in Biddeford and in Calais. A second question asks voters to approve a casino with slot machines and table games in Lewiston.
Mills said he makes a point to vote no matter how significant the issues, but he has especially strong feelings against expanding gambling.
“These always seem to come up and there’s a reason why we don’t like them,” Mills said. “Mine is more of a moral issue. It’s not such a great thing socially.”
Other voters were more focused on the potential economic benefits, and more supportive of the questions.
“If this doesn’t go through, harness racing is gone from Maine,” said Mary Mitton, who voted in Biddeford.
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