AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Some of the volunteers who gathered signatures were legally married in another state. This time around they are working harder than even with the hope that their vows will finally be recognized in Maine.
Lucie Bauer and Annie Kiermaier spent months gathering more than three-thousand signatures in support of getting the same-sex marriage issue on the November ballot.
Lucy is a retired college professor. Annie is a social worker, they met in church 18 years ago and have been together ever since.
Annie and Lucie held a commitment ceremony in 1996 to celebrate their love to their friends and family in their hometown of Rockport. Several years later they filed for a civil union in Vermont. In 2008 they got married in mountain side ceremony in California.
The couple who worked on the 2008 same sex marriage campaign were heartbroken when it was defeated. But they feel because attitudes towards gay marriage have changed significantly they have a shot of being legally married here.
"If the referendum passes our marriage in California will be recognized in Maine," said Annie.
Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine say marriage licenses in other states will be honored in Maine if the the same sex marriage law is approved by voters.
NEWS CENTER