Polling centers around the Mid-coast reported a steady stream of traffic on Election Day as voters turned out to cast their ballots on same-sex marriage, legislative races and for president of the United States.

“It’s been a confusing year for me,” said Tammy Lane, of Durham. She voted just before elementary school students were let out for the day at Durham Community School, during the lull before polls were slammed by nineto fivers casting ballots after work.

While Tracy Reed voted by absentee ballot, she came to the Durham polls with her son, Joseph, who voted for the first time.

“I thought it was important to be with him and show him how it works and also to show that this is important,” Reed said. “Voting is a right. Don’t squander it.”

“I was excited about this,” said Joseph Reed, a senior at Pine Tree Academy in Freeport. “There are five or so kids in my class who have turned 18, and I might be the only one who came out and voted. Hardly anyone in my government class knew what Question 1 was. And that was the easy one.”

A municipal issue at play in Durham was whether or not the town should separate from Regional School Unit 5. On that issue, the Reeds said they see both sides.

“It’s different for us because our kids have mostly gone to private schools, but I grew up in Durham and I went to this school,” Tracy Reed said.

For Larry Rugan, who has lived in Durham for 28 years, separating from RSU 5 was easier to address: “We got into this RSU and I think we should stay,” he said.

In Harpswell, Lee Burkhardt said: “I voted for Romney, not as much as I think he has all the answers to fix the problems we are experiencing, but more that President Obama has done enough damage by the huge increase in government debt and also the vast increase of government regulations on business and takeover of health care.”

In other cities and towns, municipal issues were minor compared to the election for president and Question 1, the statewide referendum samesex marriage question.

Tony Grill, of Bath, voted “yes” on Question 1. “What the hell. My wife talked me into it,” he said.

Regarding the presidential race, Grill, who works at Bath Iron Works, is concerned about cuts in military spending. “Romney supports military spending. Obama doesn’t. If spending gets cut at BIW, I’m out of a job,” he said.

Question 1 was also a driving issue for the Labbe family of Brunswick, three generations of whom turned out to vote Tuesday night.

But for Richard Labbe it was also about supporting Democratic legislative candidates Stan Gerzofsky and Mattie Daughtry.

For the most part, though, the family is just glad it’s over.

“Our phones were ringing all day and all night,” said the eldest Labbe, who declined to give her name. “When the ads came on the TV, I just changed the channel.”

Staff Photographer Linn Caroleo contributed to this report.

rshelly@timesrecord.com