Maine 2015 ballot measures
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Maine's 2015 elections State ballot measures • Candidate ballot access |
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Three statewide ballot measures were certified for the November 3, 2015, statewide ballot in Maine and all three were approved.
Two measures were legislatively referred bond questions—together totaling $100 million—dealing with transportation and housing. The other was an initiative regarding elections and campaigns.
The only measure that was listed as a potential ballot measure in 2015 was a veto referendum regarding welfare for asylum seekers.
The 2015 legislative session began on December 3, 2014 and concluded on June 30, 2015. The state allows indirect initiatives and referendums, as well as measures referred by the Maine State Legislature. In order to put measures before the legislature in 2015, supporters were required to collect at least 61,123 valid signatures and submit them by the January 22, 2015, filing deadline. The legislature then had the choice to either enact the legislation or have it placed on the ballot.
The Maine Secretary of State's official 2015 Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election can be read here.
On the ballot
- See also: 2015 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndISS | Question 1 | Elections | Revision of the Maine Clean Election Act | 
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| BI | Question 2 | Bonds | $15 million in bonds for affordable housing |
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| BI | Question 3 | Bonds | $85 million in bonds for transportation |
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Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndISS | Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Ruling Initiative | Fed Con | Orders the legislature to petition Congress to approve an amendment excluding money from free speech protections and corporations from the definition of "natural persons" | 
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| IndISS | Parental Consent for Abortion Initiative | Abortion | Requires parental consent for minors seeking to have an abortion |
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| IndISS | Remove Concealed Handgun Permit Initiative | Firearms | Repeals the concealed handgun permit requirement |
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| IndISS | Mandatory Minimums for Sexual Offenses Initiative | Law Enforcement | Creates mandatory minimum sentences for sexual offenses against victims under 12 years of age |
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| IndISS | Remove Restrictions on Weapons Initiative | Firearms | Removes restrictions on the carrying and use of weapons |
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| VR | Common Core Referendum | Education | Repeals use of Common Core standards in state schools |
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Historical facts
- Since 1996, an average of six measures have appeared annually on the ballot in Maine. Therefore, 2015 was a below-average year, based on the number of potential measures.
- From 1996 to 2014, the number of measures on statewide ballots ranged from one to nine.
- Between 1996 and 2014, 83 of 115, or 72 percent, of Maine ballot measures were approved by voters.
- Conversely, 32 of 115, or 28 percent, of measures were defeated between 1996 and 2014.
State profile
| Demographic data for Maine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Maine | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 1,329,453 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 30,843 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 95% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 1.1% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 1.5% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 91.6% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 29% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $49,331 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 16.6% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Maine. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Maine
Maine voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, eight are located in Maine, accounting for 3.88 percent of the total pivot counties.[1]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Maine had seven Retained Pivot Counties and one Boomerang Pivot County, accounting for 4.42 and 4.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.
More Maine coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Maine
- United States congressional delegations from Maine
- Public policy in Maine
- Endorsers in Maine
- Maine fact checks
- More...
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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