WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (AFP) - Voters in 11 US states were deciding Tuesday on laws to ban gay marriage, an emotional issue which was expected to help to ramp up voter turnout in the US presidential election.
Early returns showed that referendums on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman were approved Tuesday in Oklahoma, Georgia, Kentucky and Ohio.
Results were expected later in the day for similar referendums in Michigan, Oregon, Montana, Utah, North Dakota, Arkansas, Mississippi. Pollsters have said the measure enjoys broad support and is expected to pass in every state where it appears on the ballot.
Political observers have said that the emotional issue of legalizing gay marriage -- along with other "values" issues like abortion and stem cell research -- could draw conservative voters to the polls Tuesday, improving reelection prospects for Republican US President George W. Bush.
The midwestern state of Missouri overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on gay marriage in August.
11/03/2004 01:35 GMT - AFP