Voter turnout was expected to be low on this primary day. And with the exception of Lewiston, that appears to be true for most precincts across the state. Still, local issues and contested primary races for Maine's 2nd District Congressional seat are the reason some voters are heading to the polls.
Some voters hit the polls out of a sense of duty. Like Janice Tripp of Lewiston - she's been a steadfast voter running on 60 years. "I always have been, since I was eligible to vote," she says.
Others vote for the freedom it affords them. "If you sit back and don't go and vote, then you can't complain," says Joseph Pomerlau.
Pomerlau isn't alone in that sentiment. Jeannette and Maurice Guay share his belief you have to earn the privilege to complain about politics.
"Well, at least if I want to complain, I can complain because I made my choice," says Jeannette Guay.
"I voted right. If people don't vote that complain, they don't have the right, as far as I'm concerned, because they haven't voted," Maurice Guay adds.
But as far as the issues that drive people to the polls, Secretary of State Matt Dunlap says often, it's the local questions, "absolutely."
Which might explain in part why the turnout in Lewiston is higher than Dunlap expected. "Well, this is the heaviest I've seen anywhere - here in Lewiston," Dunlap says. "Most of the turnout that we've seen has been fairly light. And we predicted light turnout - somewhere between 13 and 15 percent."
Voters in Lewiston and Auburn are electing members to a commission that will explore whether the two cities should combine resources. Diane Grandmaison says she's motivated to come to the polls because her husband is running for one of those seats.
"I have a personal stake, but I have a stake as being born and raised here," Grandmaison says. "And, seeing the twin cities, I think we could become the number one city in the state, and we're a diamond in the rough."
Craig Saddlemire was also lured to the voting booth by the potential merger between Lewiston and Auburn, though he says he votes every chance he gets. "I've seen very important votes be decided by just under 100 votes," he says.
Local issues were also on the minds of voters in Portland, where the sheriff's race and an issue over preserving open spaces in the city drew voters to the ballot box.
Man 1: "The vote on the park thing in the City of Portland."
Man 2: "The parks - parks for protection - that's what brought me here today.
Woman 3: "I came to vote no against the 'protect our parks' initative."
Man 4: "The controversy about the public parks was worth coming to vote."
Of course, there is an issue of state-wide importance: The congressional primary race in the 2nd District pits Kevin Raye against Bruce Poliquin for the Republican ticket, and Troy Jackson and Emily Cain face-off for the Democratic nomination.
But only registered members of either party can vote in these primaries, which partially explains the overall low turnout, says Secretary of State Matt Dunlap. "That's a growing segment of our voting population - is the unenrolled voter," Dunlap says/
Almost 40 percent of the voters in Maine are unenrolled, says Dunlap. These are voters who don't have the option in June that Jeannette and Maurice Guay have - the couple who say you have to vote to be able to wallow in the aftermath, if necessary.
Patty Wight: "And do you find that a lot of times after you vote, you do complain?"
Jeannette Guay: "Yes! (laughs) It's happened quite a few times, but at least I've made my preference known."
If the estimates hold true, at least 13-15 percent of Maine voters will earn that right after this election.
