espite voting for Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore, Maine showed its conservatism in ballot questions on Election Day, narrowly defeating measures that would have given gays protection against discrimination and legalized physician-assisted suicide.
However, votes were so close that no one was admitting defeat yesterday, particularly on the gay-rights bill, which appeared to be losing by fewer than 7,000 votes. With about 99 percent of precincts reporting, supporters took back a concession until all votes are counted.
''We're still optimistic,'' said Representative Michael Quint, Democrat of Portland.
If the current unofficial results hold, Maine residents will have voted against every ballot question posed to them this year.
One that also appeared to be failing but was still too close to call would have given a tax break to fishermen who own waterfront property. The no votes were winning by fewer than 6,000 votes yesterday.
Soundly defeated were questions restricting timber practices, giving the right to vote to the mentally ill who have guardians, and legalizing video gaming at certain racetracks.
Maine residents have faced a series of highly charged social questions in recent elections, including whether to ban abortion and allow the use of marijuana for medicinal use. The abortion measure failed, but the marijuana question passed.
Some saw Tuesday's results as a growing sign that state residents do not want fundamental change in the way they live.
''There already are laws in Maine protecting people's lives,'' said Cyndee Randall, staff writer at the Maine Christian Civic League.
The state's Christian right lobbied heavily against the gay-rights and physician-assisted suicide initiatives. Both questions appeared to be narrowly rejected yesterday, with the suicide question trailing by more than 17,000 votes.
Maine residents have flip-flopped on the gay-rights issue in recent years. In 1995, they defeated a referendum question opposing gay rights. But in 1997, they vetoed a law the Legislature drafted guaranteeing gay rights. This time around, the Legislature exempted religious institutions from the law, in hope it would pass.
''It is disappointing; this is a basic right,'' said Mike Saxl, majority leader of the Maine House of Representatives. ''We are going to take a deep breath and reflect for now on this.''
Still, Saxl and others viewed yesterday's overwhelming no vote on ballot questions as a reason to reform the citizen ballot initiative process. On the East Coast, only Maine, Massachusetts, and Florida allow citizens to place questions before voters.
Maine has the most liberal standard, needing only signatures representing 10 percent of voters in the last gubernatorial election. Three of Maine's ballot questions - physician-assisted suicide, video gaming, and forest restrictions - were sponsored by citizens.
All the rejected ballot questions ''may be a sign from voters'' that an overhaul is needed, Saxl said. Governor Angus King has said that he wants to make it more difficult for questions to get on the ballot.
Meanwhile, supporters of ballot questions took stock yesterday.
''While both sides may disagree on this issue, there are many issues we agree about in improving end-of-life care in Maine,'' said Kate Roberts of Death With Dignity, a group that fought for approval of physician-assisted suicide. ''That's what we'll be working on. And we're going to rest for a while.''
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
