Maine: Question 1, Prop 8 part 2 (And WA's R-71)

[The Duchess of Zeon]

God, it can certainly be that confusing sometimes. But despite that, we pulled it off! It's truly a marvelous moment and I'm certainly basking in pride that my state is the first one with a populace who have proactively voted to extend rights to the LGBT community.

Does anyone want any relocation assistance? We also have no income tax.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

It's still fucking close as hell. Last I checked, Approve R-71 is at 51.03%. Is there another source for a more recent update?

[The Duchess of Zeon]

It's still fucking close as hell. Last I checked, Approve R-71 is at 51.03%. Is there another source for a more recent update?

No, it's not that close, because if you check the Voter Turnout Tab you'll see that 70% of the votes have already been counted. Furthermore you'll see that of the remaining 389,000 votes, 115,000 are from King County, which is going 2 to 1 in favour of R-71, 34,000 are from Snohomish County, 9,000 from Skagit county, 20,000 from Whatcom county, 20,000 Thurston, 6,200 Island, 21,000 Kitsap... Basically more than half of the remaining votes, Pinto, are from counties which have broke in favour of R-71, and 30% are from King County, which is 2-to-1 in favour. Furthermore, Pierce County is very urban and the rate there is running pretty even despite the huge concentration of military bases, and Spokane county, the only truly populous county outside of Puget Sound area, only has 40,000 votes left to be counted and is still only running 60/40 against. Clark County, the other major populated county running against R-71 (and admittedly where I now live), is running sufficiently close at a difference of about 1/8th that its remaining votes won't be much to turn the balance.

The 2-to-1 ratios against R-71 are in the eastern counties, but other than Benton, Yakima and Franklin they don't matter for shit, with average populations in each county of like 10,000 people. Walla Walla is actually staying pretty close and the only conservative fuckhead county in the western part of the state, Lewis County, that's breaking 2-to-1 against, just doesn't have the population to make a different either.

They're going to keep eating into the margin, but the remaining votes favour their ability to do so grinding to a halt with about another half a percentage loss. It will end around 50.6% in favour and 49.4% against. The No campaign has to reach 700,000 votes against to defeat R-71, and currently has 491,000. That means of the remaining 389,000 votes, 209,000 would have to be no on R-71. Basically the remaining votes have to consistently run at 53.75% against, or a 4.75% shift from the current percentages.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

This evening's report from King County helps us widen the lead again by .7%, no doubt a relief to all.

[Pint0 Xtreme]

Breaking News: Approve Referendum-71 is finally being called in as the victor today.

Voters approve Referendum 71
Washington state voters have approved Referendum 71, keeping a law that expands state benefits for registered same-sex and some senior domestic partners.

By Janet I. Tu
Seattle Times staff reporter
Washington state voters have approved Referendum 71, keeping a law that expands state benefits for registered same-sex and some senior domestic partners.

The tally Thursday afternoon saw the vote to approve R-71 widening its lead 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent.

That lead now appears insurmountable. The Secretary of State's Office estimates another 500,000 to 600,000 ballots statewide are still outstanding, with about half expected from King County, where the measure is being approved by slightly more than 2 to 1.

"Voters across the state listened to the personal stories of lesbian and gay families and the challenges they faced and sent a strong message that we want to see all families treated equally under the law in our state," said Anne Levinson, chairwoman of Washington Families Standing Together, which worked for the measure's approval.

But opponents of R-71 were not conceding Thursday afternoon.

Larry Stickney, head of Protect Marriage Washington, which worked for rejection of R-71, said: "There are a lot of votes out there still. We continue to have some hope that the votes cast later will move in our direction."

Congratulations to WA! You've made history today!