[MsTinkerbelly]

Final ballot language released for Maine marriage equality referendum
By Jacob Combs

Yesterday, the AP reported that Charlie Summers, Maine’s Secretary of State, had released the final ballot wording for the referendum that will ask Mainers whether or not to bring marriage equality back to their state. The final wording is short and to the point: “Do you want to allow the State of Maine to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples?”

Summers, a Republican who opposes marriage equality, had originally proposed a different ballot question which read, “Do you want to allow same-sex couples to marry?” Equal marriage advocates in the state had opposed that wording, saying that it was misleading and withheld vital information from Maine voters since it did not represent the part of the law that protected religious institutions who are opposed to marriage equality. A 30-day comment period was held during which the public could respond to the proposed language.

Advocates on both side of the issue said they were pleased with Summers’s final wording. Supporters of equal marriage rights said the final wording makes it clear that the law concerns only civil marriage and has no effect on religious institutions’ decisions to recognize marriages between gay and lesbian couples. Protect Marriage Maine also said that it considered the language a good middle ground, although the group’s chairman, Rev. Bob Emrich, said he wished it had included language asking voters whether they wanted to “redefine” marriage.

Moving ahead, marriage equality supporters in the state will bear some of the burden of explaining the laws religious protections, since they will not be explicit in the wording. Nonetheless, it’s a good sign that this ballot language doesn’t include any mention of “redefining” marriage, or of limiting marriage to “one man and one woman.” On both those fronts, the Maine language is simple, balanced and easy to understand