Failed York County Casino Drive Spent About $146 Per Yes Vote

AUGUSTA, Maine - A failed campaign to bring a third casino to Maine's York County cost about $146 for every vote in favor of the plan.
 
The political action committee Progress for Maine and a series of affiliated ballot question committees that funded a voter signature drive spent a combined $8.4 million on a citizen initiative that failed in a landslide loss. The Portland Press Herald reports that only 57,280 voters supported the casino compared to 285,372 who rejected it - an 83 to 17 percent margin.
 
About $5 million of the $8.4 million was devoted to the campaign in support of the ballot question and the rest to the signature drive, leading to a vote cost of just over $146 per every yes vote.