This just in...

This just in from the Portland Press Herald - "Portland has to order extra ballots for absentee voters."

According to the city clerk, the same-sex marriage referendum has been so motivating to residents to vote early that the city has had to order an additional 2,000 absentee ballots.  The city has already received 2,883 requests for absentee ballots -- a record for an off-year election. Had they received 600 more requests, they would have run out of ballots.

Statewide, 25,000 voters have requested absentee ballots, according to the Secretary of State's Office.  Portland is the only community that has requested additional ballots.  In comparison, the 2007 off-year election had only 128 city residents who requested absentee ballots at this point in the campaign.

In Portland, where there are no citywide contested political races or ballot questions this fall, it's clear that the state ballot is driving voters' interest.

To read the full article, click here.