From staff and wire services

Maine residents headed to the polls Tuesday and voted to repeal the same-sex marriage statute that was passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. John E. Baldacci in May.

As of 2 a.m. on Wednesday, with 87 percent of precincts reporting, 53 percent of voters were in favor of repealing the law.

The state was set to become the sixth state in the union to allow same-sex marriage—but now is the 31st state to oppose the institution in a popular vote. States allowing same-sex marriage have all come about it through legislative or judicial means.

Polls leading up to the vote showed both sides of the issue in a dead heat. Baldacci, however, was optimistic, pointing out to the Washington Post early this week that Maine residents have an independent streak.

“I believe it’s something in the water or the air in this state that recognizes individual rights and anti-discrimination attitudes,” Baldacci told the Post. “It’s more of a libertarian-type state than it is Republican or Democrat.”

Maine’s secretary of state, Matthew Dunlap, told AP that turnout Tuesday seemed higher than expected for an off-year election and voter interest appeared intense. More than 100,000 people—out of about 1 million registered voters—had voted by absentee ballot or early voting.

Same-sex marriage supporters have played the issue both as a matter of equality and as a matter of self-determination by Maine’s own residents.

A great deal of the money supporting the repeal came from out-of-state sources, with both the Church of Latter-Day Saints and the Catholic Church reportedly providing substantial amounts. According to the New York Times, many Catholic churches had passed out second collection baskets to contribute to the fight.

The N.J. based National Organization for Marriage also invested about $1.5 million in the battle, and has come under fire for not revealing the names of contributors, as required by Maine law.

Opposing organizations quickly proclaimed victory late Tuesday. Marc Mutty of Stand for Marriage Maine told a Portland rally, “We’ve struggled, we’ve worked against tremendous odds … We’ve prevailed because the people of Maine, the silent majority, the folks back home spoke with their vote tonight,” according to ABC News.

Jesse Connelly of Protect Maine Equality told ABC News that his organization, which campaigned against the repeal, would not back down anytime soon.

“We’re in this for the long haul. For next week, for next month, and next year until all Maine families are treated equally,” Connelly said.

Carol Cheeseman Russo of Carmel, Maine, said that she voted against repeal and hoped that the matter would be revisited soon, according to ABC News.

“No one in my family is gay—at least that I’m aware of—but I don’t think anyone has the right to tell someone who they’re allowed to love or who they’re allowed to marry,” Russo said.

Another Portland resident, Sarah Holman said she was “very torn” but decided — despite her conservative upbringing — to vote in favor of letting gays marry.

“They love and they have the right to love. And we can’t tell somebody how to love,” said Holman, 26.