Question 1: Citizen Initiative
An Act To Prohibit the Use of Dogs, Bait or Traps When Hunting Bears Except under Certain Circumstances
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 279,617 46.56%
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

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[17] 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[18] University of New Hampshire 441 41% 53% 6% ±4.4%
June 12–18, 2014[18] 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. ↑ "Department of the Secretary of State General Election Tabulations". 2 November 2004. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Group wants bear-baiting referendum in Maine". NECN. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  4. ↑ Wight, Patty (3 February 2014). "Maine Bear Baiting Opponents Deliver 80K Petition Signatures". MPBN.net. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Handy, Sharon (5 March 2014). "Citizen's referendum to restrict bear hunting methods advances". WMTW TV. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  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. ↑ Sarnacki, Aislinn (26 June 2014). "State releases final wording of ballot question on bear referendum". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  8. 1 2 Holyoke, John (September 23, 2013). "Maine bear hunting referendum opponents unveil coalition". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  9. ↑ Holyoke, John (August 7, 2013). "Groups join in effort for new Maine bear hunting referendum". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  10. 1 2 Sarnacki, Aislinn (August 11, 2014). "Visit by U.S. humane society president brings national view to Maine's bear baiting vote". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ McCrea, Nick (September 14, 2014). "Humane Society CEO goes door to door in Bangor to solicit support to ban 'inhumane, unsporting bear hunting practices'". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  12. ↑ Sarnacki, Aislinn (September 30, 2014). "Bear referendum proponents sue Maine wildlife department for campaign activities". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  13. ↑ Sarnacki, Aislinn (October 17, 2014). "Maine wildlife department halts use of state money to campaign against Question 1 in response to hearing". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  14. ↑ Harrison, Judy (October 17, 2014). "Judge: Maine wildlife department can campaign on bear hunting question". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Shock upset or inevitable victory? How LePage won a second term as governor". 5 November 2014.
  16. 1 2 Bangor Daily News/Ipsos poll results, October 23-29, 2014
  17. ↑ Poll: A majority of Mainers oppose ban on bear-baiting, October 26, 2014
  18. 1 2 In Maine gubernatorial race, bear baiting referendum could have the sleeper effect
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting endorsements
  20. ↑ "Famous talk show host Bill Maher endorses referendum to ban bear baiting". Bangor Daily News. September 15, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Real sportsmen don't need bait, hounds or traps". Journal-Tribune. 2014-09-13. Archived from the original on 2014-09-25.
  22. ↑ "Bear baiting". The Times Record. May 20, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  23. ↑ "It's time to ban bear baiting". The Portsmouth Herald. October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Senator Angus King defends Maine's bear management". Bangor Daily News.com. April 6, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Save Maine's Bear Hunt endorsements". Archived from the original on 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  26. 1 2 Brewer, Paula (October 21, 2014). "Collins, Bellows disagree over minimum wage, health care in first debate". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Maine game warden Kris MacCabe stars in video opposing Question 1". Bangor Daily News.com. September 2, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  28. ↑ Sarnacki, Aislinn (June 26, 2013). "Ted Nugent speaks out against bear referendum". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  29. ↑ "No on Question 1: The facts are on the side of baiting". Bangor Daily News. October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  30. ↑ "OUR OPINION: Vote no on Question 1". Kennebec Journal. October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
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