PORTLAND, Maine—City clerks in two of Maine's biggest cities say the voter turnout was far higher than during a traditional off-year election.
Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap originally projected that 35 percent of voting age residents would turn out at polling places. He later amended that and said turnout would be higher.
In Bangor, City Clerk Patti Dubois (DOO'-boy) says turnout was closer to 50 percent. And in South Portland, the heaver-than-expected turnout led to a shortage of ballots and City Clerk Susan Mooney had to send more than 1,000 photocopied ballots to polling places.
Gay marriage was the top item, but residents also voted on tax-related referendums and proposals calling for the repeal of the state's school district consolidation law and an expansion of the medical marijuana law.
