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UPDATE: Maine electors pick Obama, Biden

By From staff and wire reports December 15, 2008 03:05 PM

AUGUSTA -- Presidential electors in Maine have just cast all four of their votes for Barack Obama, as the Electoral College met in the State House and in state capitals across the country.

Joe Biden also got all four of Maine's electoral votes for vice president.

Today's vote was largely ceremonial, since the outcome after the Nov. 4 voting has long been known. But the vote by electors is required by the Constitution in order to formally and legally elect Obama and Biden.

The electors picked Jill Duson, Portland's first black mayor, as their president. It was a busy afternoon for Duson, who also opened the ceremony by singing the national anthem.


9:06 a.m.:

AUGUSTA -- The Electoral College for the state of Maine convenes today to officially cast Maine's ballots for President and Vice President of the U.S.

The balloting will take place at 2 p.m. and is a public event that can be watched by streamlined video which can be accessed by clicking this link.

Maine has four Presidential electors: Jill Duson (First District) of Portland, Samuel Shapiro (Second District) of Waterville, Robert O'Brien (At-large) of Peaks Island and Tracie Reed (At-large) of Portland.

Today is not just Maine's day to vote. Electors of all 50 states convene today to cast their ballots. A majority of the 538 electoral votes is required to become President and Vice-President.


Copyright 2008 Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.