Maine Question 1, Repeal of Ban Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination Referendum (February 1998)
| Maine Question 1 | |
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| Topic Constitutional rights and LGBTQ issues |
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| Status |
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| Type Veto referendum |
Origin |
Maine Question 1 was on the ballot as a veto referendum in Maine on February 10, 1998. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported repealing legislation that had banned discrimination based on sexual orientation for jobs, housing, public accommodations and credit. |
A "no" vote opposed repealing legislation that had banned discrimination based on sexual orientation for jobs, housing, public accommodations and credit. |
Election results
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Maine Question 1 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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145,452 | 51.29% | ||
| No | 138,153 | 48.71% | ||
Aftermath
After this special election vote on a People's Veto, the Maine State Legislature voted to propose a new constitutional amendment to the Maine Constitution in 1999, the Maine Election Timing of People's Veto (1999), which was approved. This new constitutional amendment said that henceforward, Maine People's Vetoes votes could not be held at special elections--as was the case with this 1998 vote--but could only be held at regularly scheduled statewide and general elections.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 1 was as follows:
| “ | Do you want to reject the law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation with respect to jobs, housing, public accommodations and credit? | ” |
Path to the ballot
A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law. This type of ballot measure is also called statute referendum, popular referendum, people's veto, or citizen's veto. There are 23 states that allow citizens to initiate veto referendums.
In Maine, the number of signatures required for a veto referendum is equal to 10% of the total votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election prior to the filing of such petition. Signatures for veto referendums are due 90 days following the final adjournment of the legislative session at which the targeted bill was passed. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Maine Augusta (capital) |
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