Breaking down Maine's election questions

Election-related donations, major spending items and the controversial debate over the national flag. These are some of the questions you'll see on the Maine ballot when you vote.

Five referendum questions appear on all ballots in Maine.

In this section, policy expert and UMaine professor Jim Melcher walks us through each one.

Questions about the nationwide referendum

QUESTION 1: An Act limiting contributions to political action committees that engage in independent expenditures. Do you want to place a $5,000 cap on donations to political action committees that independently spend money to support or defeat candidates for office?

Question 1 concerns Super PACs and elections. Proponents of Question 1 say it will deter powerful people from other states from interfering in Maine's interests. Opponents say they are concerned that Question 1 restricts free speech and could mean legal costs for Maine.

QUESTION 2: An Act authorizing the issuance of general fund bonds for research, development and commercialization. Favor a $25,000,000 bond issue to provide funds to be awarded through a competitive process and to utilize matching private and state funds at least on a one-for-one basis for research, development, and commercialization for the Maine-based public sector ? private institutions supporting technological innovation in the target sectors of life sciences and biomedical technology, environmental technology and renewable energy technology, information technology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, aquaculture and marine technology, composites and advanced materials, and precision manufacturing?

Question 2 asks whether voters want to invest $25 million in technological innovation. If passed, the bond would donate money to public and private entities working on projects in areas such as biomedical technology, renewable energy or advances in forestry.

QUESTION 3: An Act authorizing a general fund bond issuance for the restoration of historic community buildings. Do you support a $10,000,000 bond issue for the restoration of historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations, with the issuance of the funds contingent upon a 25 percent local funding requirement from private or nonprofit sources?

Question 3 asks whether voters would approve a $10 million bond to restore historic buildings owned by the government or nonprofits.

QUESTION 4:An Act authorizing a general fund bond issuance to promote the design, development and maintenance of trails for outdoor recreation and active transportation. Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to invest in the design, development and maintenance of non-motorized, motorized and multi-use trails nationwide, along with at least $3,000,000 in private and public contributions?

Question 4 on your ballot would provide the funds needed to recover from storm damage, repair bridges and repair signs.

If all three bond questions are approved, it would be a $65 million federal loan. Maine State Treasurer Henry Beck says that represents an estimated payback of $86.6 million after interest.

All three bond questions require a private or public consensus for the bonds to be issued. This means that the recipient must make a certain investment in the project in order to receive this government funding.

QUESTION 5: An Act to restore the former flag of the State of Maine. Do you support making the former state flag, which was replaced as the state's official flag in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the state's official flag?

Question 5 asks if you would like to replace the current Maine flag, which is blue and features the state seal, with one that resembles Maine's original 1901 flag with a pine tree and a blue star. There is no motif on the ballot paper itself.