Maine’s Ballot All About Slots

Passamaquoddy tribal rep Fred Moore thinks that they are a sure thing to get on the ballot in 2007. He says that they have more than enough supporters to force a statewide vote on the slot machine issues. “We will be on the ballot,” he was quoted as saying.

They have submitted roughly 56,000 signatures, thousands more than was needed, to get onto the 2007 ballot. They were hoping to get on the 2006 ballot, but fell short of their goal for signatures. They had collected 61,000 signatures in support of the initiative but 13,000 of them were disqualified for one reason or another – keeping them below the required amount. That leaves them with 48,000 signatures that they can put toward the required amount for next year’s ballot – putting the tribe only 2,500 short of their goal.

Another group is trying to get on the ballot to outlaw slot machines in Maine all together. The group No Slots for ME! is planning on collecting signatures outside of the polling places at this year’s election to get on the ballot for next year. The group thinks that by bringing in one slot machine parlor, they have opened themselves up to many more slot machine parlors coming in – and it seems with the latest from the tribe that this would be true.

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