Mainers vote against new utilities proposal, approve a stop to foreign spending in referendums

By PATRICK WHITTLE and DAVID SHARP
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine voters faced a busy ballot on Tuesday in an off-year election. Mainers turned down an attempt to oust the state’s corporate-owned electric utilities, while they approved one to stop foreign spending in referendums. Voters also decided to restore language about honoring obligations to Native American tribes to printed versions of the constitution. Mainers also voted against removing a requirement that referendum petition gatherers be Maine residents, despite the provision being ruled unconstitutional. Polls have closed on an Election Day that saw consistent turnout despite a lack of statewide offices on the ballot.