FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Contact: Kristen Muszynski
Work: 626-8404/Cell: 441-7638

Secretary Dunlap Announces Results of Statewide Bond Referendum Question

AUGUSTA – The official tabulation of votes from the June 13, 2017 Special Referendum Election show that the bond issue was approved by Maine voters, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced today.

The Elections Division has certified the results and Gov. Paul LePage signed the official vote proclamation this morning.

The certified election results show a total of 63,468 votes in favor of the bond issue, and 39,549 votes in opposition. Voters cast a total of 104,213 ballots in this single-question statewide referendum, with 1,196 blanks.

Question 1 asked: “Do you favor a $50,000,000 bond issue to provide $45,000,000 in funds for investment in research, development and commercialization in the State to be used for infrastructure, equipment and technology upgrades that enable organizations to gain and hold market share, to increase revenues and to expand employment or preserve jobs for Maine people, to be awarded through a competitive process to Maine-based public and private entities, leveraging other funds in a one-to-one ratio and $5,000,000 in funds to create jobs and economic growth by lending to or investing in small businesses with the potential for significant growth and strong job creation?”

The Elections Division will post the results online this week at http://maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results/index.html .
The legislation will become law 30 days from the date of the official proclamation (July 21, 2017).