OFFICIAL EXPECTS 35% TURNOUT

Susan M. Cover, Kennebec Journal - Secretary of State Matt Dunlap is predicting a 35 percent voter turnout on Tuesday, despite heavy advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate. Dunlap based his estimate on the number of requests for absentee ballots, which he said has been strong for a referendum election, but nowhere near the number of requests for a presidential vote. And while voters seem to be picking up ballots, they aren't returning them as fast as he would have anticipated.