Maine Question 1, 2014

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Question 1: Citizen Initiative
An Act To Prohibit the Use of Dogs, Bait or Traps When Hunting Bears Except under Certain Circumstances
Results
Votes  %
Yes check.svg Yes 279,617 46.56%
X mark.svg No 320,873 53.44%
Valid votes 600,490 97.99%
Invalid or blank votes 12,331 2.01%
Total votes 612,821 100.00%
Source: Office of the Secretary of State of Maine, Tabulation of Votes
Elections in Maine
Seal of Maine.svg
This box:

Maine Question 1 (MQ1), "An Act To Prohibit the Use of Dogs, Bait or Traps When Hunting Bears Except under Certain Circumstances", was a citizen-initiated referendum measure in Maine, which was voted on in the general election of November 4, 2014. As the Maine Legislature declined to act on the proposed statute, it was automatically placed on the ballot. The proposal was defeated by 320,873 "No" votes to 279,617 "Yes".[1]

Background

In 2013, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) decided to push for a restrictions on bear hunting in Maine. Maine voters previously rejected a ban on using traps, bait, and dogs to hunt bears on 2 November 2004, with 389,455 opposed and 344,322 in favor.[2]

With support from HSUS, some Maine residents formed Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting (MFBH). On 9 July 2013, MFBH began collecting 80,000 signatures to place the question on the November 2014 ballot. 57,277 signatures were required to do so.[3] MFBH submitted the signatures on 3 February 2014.[4] On 5 March, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap certified 63,626 valid signatures.[5] Under Maine law, MQ1 was then submitted to the Maine Legislature for action as LD 1845 IB 1.[6] On 25 March, the Legislature indefinitely postponed action on MQ 5, thereby sending it to the voters.

Secretary Dunlap released the final wording of the question on 25 June. It was "Do you want to ban bear hunting using bait, traps or dogs except to protect property, public safety or for research?" As the only citizen referendum to reach the ballot, it was designated Question 1 per Maine law.[7]

Campaign

Opponents of the petition gathering effort announced the formation of Save Maine's Bear Hunt (SMBH) on September 23, 2013. SMBH had the support of the three major candidates for Governor in 2014, and of 80 state legislators and 20 organizations. SMBH characterized the referendum as a vote on how to manage wildlife in Maine, and not on hunting methods, believing that wildlife professionals know best how to manage the bear population. They further criticized the intervention of HSUS in a local matter.[8]

MFBH stated their goal was to end what they call "cruel and unsportsmanlike" practices, which they claimed were not necessary to control the bear population in Maine. They also claimed the previous referendum effort failed due to "scare tactics" and misinformation.[9]

MFBH was almost entirely funded by HSUS. From 28 May to 15 July, HSUS gave $780,000 to MFBH. In the same period, SMBH and other opponents raised about $250,000.[10] HSUS president Wayne Pacelle personally canvassed homes in Portland on August 10,[10] and in Bangor on September 13.[11]

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) and DIF&W Commissioner Chandler Woodcock officially opposed MQ1. MFBH sued DIF&W on September 30, demanding that DIF&W comply with MFBH's Freedom of Access Act requests, cease campaigning against Question 1, and repay state funds used for campaign activities. MFBH stated "We do respect the agency’s right to provide factual information to voters, but they’ve repeatedly gone above and beyond that, and it’s time for that to stop." Commissioner Woodcock called the lawsuit politically motivated and meant to "generate headlines".[12] MFBH asked for an emergency injunction to stop DFI&W's campaigning.

In response, DIF&W announced on October 17 that it would stop using state funds to oppose the referendum, while maintaining that its actions were lawful.[13]

Maine Superior Court Judge Joyce Wheeler denied the request for the injunction on October 22, stating that "The public interest would be adversely affected if plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order were granted when DIF&W’s speech is on topics squarely within ‘its competence as governor'" of Legislative directives. The Maine Attorney General's office called the ruling a victory for free speech, while MFBH said "Our government shouldn’t be telling us how to vote." [14]

After the failure of the referendum, it was speculated that its presence on the ballot aided Paul LePage's reelection as Governor, as it brought out voters also amenable to supporting LePage. [15]

Polling

Date of opinion poll Conducted by Sample size
(likely voters)		 Yes No Undecided Margin of Error
October 23–29, 2014[16] Bangor Daily News/Ipsos 488 45% 49% 6% ±5.1%
October 15–21, 2014[16] University of New Hampshire 667 36% 57% 7% ±3.8%
October 6–12, 2014[16] Bangor Daily News/Ipsos 540 43% 49% 7% ±4.8%
September 18–25, 2014[17] University of New Hampshire 441 41% 53% 6% ±4.4%
June 12–18, 2014[17] University of New Hampshire 441 48% 44% 8% ±4.4%

Notable endorsements

Supporters

Opponents

Declined to endorse

References

  1. ↑ 2014 Maine Elections Results Portland Press-Herald Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ "An Act To Prohibit the Use of Dogs, Bait or Traps When Hunting Bears Except under Certain Circumstances" Maine Legislature Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ http://bangordailynews.com/2014/11/05/the-point/a-shock-upset-or-inevitable-victory-how-lepage-won-a-second-term-as-maine-governor/
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Bangor Daily News/Ipsos poll results, October 23-29, 2014 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "BDN" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "BDN" defined multiple times with different content
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 In Maine gubernatorial race, bear baiting referendum could have the sleeper effect
  18. ↑ 18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting endorsements
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Real sportsmen don’t need bait, hounds or traps Biddeford Journal-Tribune, 13 September 2014.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 Save Maine's Bear Hunt endorsements
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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