Maine gay marriage law heads to November ballot after 100K voters sign petition for referendum

Fate of Maine gay marriage law in hands of voters

AUGUSTA, Maine — The governor of Maine has signed a formal proclamation putting the state’s gay marriage law up for a vote in November.

Gov. John Baldacci signed the measure Wednesday after election officials verified that gay marriage foes had reached the threshold of petitions necessary to put the law on the ballot.

The gay marriage law was supposed to go into effect this month, but it was put on hold while the secretary of state’s office validated the number of petitions.

The announcement comes as no surprise.

Gay marriage opponents needed the signatures of at least 55,087 registered voters for the so-called People’s Veto, and they turned in nearly 100,000 signatures.

In May, Maine became the fifth state to allow gay marriage, and New Hampshire followed suit.