HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Recreation Center opened its doors on Tuesday to welcome voters who cast their ballots to decide the three state referendum questions, as well as vote in local elections for town council members.
The center saw a small but steady trickle of voters early on, though nowhere near the large turnout that occurred for the 2020 presidential contest.
The main question on the referendum was Question 1, which asks voters if they want to ban further construction of the CMP Corridor, a planned hydroelectric power line originating in Quebec that runs through Maine to Massachusetts. A “Yes” vote bans the construction, while a “no” allows it to continue.
Houlton resident Debbie Champagne said she voted to ban the corridor.
“It doesn’t seem like a good deal to me,” she said. “I don’t think it’s feasible for this area.”
Michael Babin, another voter who recently moved to Houlton from Connecticut, said he voted “no” on Question 1.
“There’s a lot of propaganda out there,” he said. “It’s very confusing for people.”
Also featured on the referendum was Question 3, which creates a constitutional amendment to create a state right to growing, raising, harvesting and producing food.
Forrest Barnes said he cast a “no” vote for Question 3 in Houlton, saying it was too complex of an amendment.
“I don’t really understand the third question,” he said. “I read it 14 times and read about it in the paper, so I think I voted the right way.”
