A ballot measure to make same-sex marriage legal in Maine earns the support of more than half of voters, a new poll released Thursday shows, but the race appears to be tightening.
The latest survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) shows that 52 percent of likely voters approve of “Question 1” — an initiated measure that would overturn a 2009 ban and allow the state of Maine to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples — while 44 percent are opposed.
While LGBT advocates will be pleased that the measure eclipses 50 percent support, PPP’s latest release shows a closer contest than previous polls have indicated. Polls in the summer showed Question 1 winning by roughly 20 points, and another PPP survey in March showed it up by 15 points.
“Our experience in polling gay marriage is that if people say they’re undecided it usually means they’re opposed to it,” said Dean Debnam, president of PPP, in the poll’s release. “Despite the 8 point lead for passage this should be seen as a very close race.”
Maine voters in 2009 overturned a law that legalized same-sex marriage through a statewide referendum.
