Washington D.C., Nov 6, 2012 / 10:17 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Voters in the state of Maine approved a ballot measure Nov. 6 to redefine marriage to include homosexual couples, becoming the sixth state in the U.S. to do so, and the first to do so by a vote of the people.

Previously, marriage had been put before the people 32 times, and voters had affirmed marriage as the union of a man and a woman in each case.

Question 1 on the Maine ballot proposed to legally recognize “gay marriage,” reversing a similar referendum in 2009 that was narrowly defeated.

With 45 percent of precincts reporting on the night of the Nov. 6 election, the measure held a 55-46 percent lead, enough for analysts to project its passage.