Finalizing the Nov. 8 outcome

State schedules recount of marijuana and education tax ballot votes

Tue, 11/29/2016 - 3:00pm

    Recounts have been scheduled for referendum Question 1 and Question 2, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said Nov. 29. The Question 2 recount will begin Thursday, Dec. 1, in the Florian Room of the Maine Department of Public Safety Building, 45 Commerce Drive in Augusta. It will then be conducted concurrently with the Question 1 recount, beginning Monday, Dec. 5.

    • Question 1 would legalize marijuana for recreational use by adults 21 years of age or older. Official election night results show a difference of 4,073 votes between the Yes and No vote. According to the state, the vote was 381,647 voting in favor and 377,574 against.

      The referendum asked voters: “Do you want to allow the possession and use of marijuana under state law by persons who are at least 21 years of age, and allow the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?”

    • Question 2 would institute a 3 percent tax on individual Maine taxable income above $200,000 to go toward education expenses. Official election night results show a difference of 9,580 votes between the Yes and No votes. The state recorded 383,428 in favor, and 373,848 opposed.

      The question asked voters: “Do you want to add a 3 percent tax on individual Maine taxable income above $200,000 to create a state fund that would provide direct support for student learning in kindergarten through 12th grade public education?” Recounts are a public proceeding. A statewide referendum recount is expected to take up to six weeks. In a recount, the representatives of each side of the issue manually review each ballot to determine the official vote tally, overseen by the staff members from the Department of the Secretary of State.

      Results of the recount will be posted on the Maine Department of the Secretary of State website at maine.gov/sos/cec and Facebook page at facebook.com/MaineSOS/?ref=hl and released to the media via email.

    • State law requires the State Police to collect the ballots for the recount and keep them in a secure State Police facility until the recount has been completed. The ballots are stored in tamperproof metal containers and are closed with specially numbered security seals and locks.