A shocker, but long overdue — college students, graduates under 45 barred from voting

who let the dogs out? University of Southern Maine students slither out from under their rock

Maine rejects enshrining voting rights for people with severe mental illnesses

For the third time in 26 years, Maine voters rejected a ballot initiative that would repeal a constitutional prohibition on voting for those under guardianship for reasons of mental illness.

The no side of Question 8 had 52.5 percent of votes to 47.5 percent for the yes side, according to unofficial reports to the Bangor Daily News after the Associated Press called the race on Wednesday.

There is no practical effect from the result because Maine has not enforced the voting prohibition since a federal judge found it unconstitutional in 2001. Voters also shot down attempts to take this provision of the state Constitution off the books in 1997 and 2000.

When the state was founded in 1820, its Constitution barred “paupers and persons under guardianship” from voting. In 1965, that was amended to just apply to those under guardianship for reasons of mental illness. A bipartisan group of lawmakers sent the fix contained in Question 8 to voters earlier this year.

Next up: appoint guardians for all Democrats of any age.