More than 50 percent of registered voters cast ballots in Scarborough, with ( ) going to the polls and another ( ) voting with absentee ballots. The turnout, said town clerk Tody Justice, was surprisingly higher than her initial estimate of 8,500.

At the polls, many Scarborough residents were firmly in favor of TABOR, hoping that it will (would) control government spending and eventually lower taxes.

Barbara Bentle, who recently moved back to Maine, found that the many arguments both for and against TABOR obscured the question.

“I’m relatively new to Maine, and the more I heard the more confused I became,” said Bentle. When it came time to vote, she added, she went with a gut feeling and voted in favor of TABOR.

For Ron Akers the second, TABOR represents a good way to help control government spending he thinks is excessive. “Basically,” said Akers, “we need to control spending and it’s the best way I’ve seen to do that.”

Penny Salevsky agreed with both Akers and Bentle, voting for TABOR in the hopes that reduced government spending will help ease taxes.

“A lot of frivolous spending needs to be looked at,” said Salevsky.

Cape Elizabeth residents leaving the polls were also mostly in favor of TABOR.

Peter McFarland of Penny Land, said he voted for TABOR “because I’m a government employee and I see waste everyday and it makes me sick.”

Rosemarie Townsend of Brentwood Road, said she voted for TABOR. “I think there is way too much spent in government that should be focused on bringing more jobs to Maine,” she said. Townsend said it was not a perfect answer but it is a start, government has to be held accountable.

Everett Johnson, of Shore Road, said he voted in favor of TABOR because government spending is way out of control.

Sarah Nelson, of Mitchell Road, aid she was against TABOR because she did not believe in it. She said she did not know all the details, but it seemed like a bad bill.

Tony Dobaj, of Broad Cove Road, said he voted in favor of TABOR because part of the state’s problems is over taxation.

Arthur Clum, of Broad Cove Road, said he voted for TABOR “to send a message to state government that they have to deal with high taxes.”