When the polls opened in Boothbay and Edgecomb Tuesday a sampling of voters showed that Gov. Paul LePage was a driving force in getting people to vote.

Some people support the governor and others don’t. A sampling of four Boothbay and four Edgecomb voters between 8 and 9 a.m. showed most people picked the gubernatorial election as the most compelling race.

In Boothbay, Heather Hills was among 10 votes who waited in line before 8 a.m. to cast a ballot. She believes it’s important for all citizens to vote.

“It’s my duty as an American. I vote in every election,” Hills said.

And the gubernatorial election is the most interesting race on the ballot, according to Hills.

“I hope LePage wins,” she said. “That’s the race I’m most interested in, and will follow tonight if it doesn’t go too late.”

Pete Thayer agreed that the gubernatorial election was the most interesting contest, but he’s not a LePage supporter. Thayer didn’t vote for LePage in 2010 or 2014.

“In the governor’s race, a lot of people, including myself, have strong feelings about him,” Thayer said. “He’s been in office for four years, and I’ve seen no change. I don’t like the way he conducts himself or his policies.”

Thayer is also interested in the bear referendum. However, his views on Question 1 isn’t as black and white as the governor’s race.

“The bears are a different matter. I can see both sides on that so that will be interesting to see how it turns out,” he said.

Some voters came to the polls out of civic duty. Jason Nein and Loretta Raburn believed regardless who or what is on the ballot that voting is more than a right, it’s a duty.

“It’s a governor’s race, so its important for your voice to be heard,” Nein said.

Raburn believed all the races and referendum questions were equally important. And it was every citizen’s duty to vote.

“If I don’t vote then I don’t really have a right to complain,” Raburn said.

In Edgecomb, Linda White had the most interest in governor’s race.

“In my opinion I don’t like Gov. LePage. I’m voting for Mike Michaud,” she said. “I like Mike. He is a nice person, and I like he’ll do a lot of good things for the state.”

Allen Hersom voted with his two sons as they were on the way to work. Hersom votes in every election, but his son, Ian, is not a regular voter.

“Dad said let’s vote and get it over. So that’s why we are here,” Ian Hersom said.

Allen Herhom is most interested in the governor’s race and the amount of government spending on the referendum questions.

“The issues I’m following concern the amount of money the state is spending,” he said. “I’m also concerned with the schools and environment.”

While Ian Hersom, who described himself as an “anti-government anarchist,” was interested in the bond issues. He had no interest in the state or federal election contests.

“There is about $40 million in bond issues, and I believe that’s too much,” Ian Hersom said. “I have no interest in the candidates because they’re all the same.”

Natalie Castonia disagreed. She voted for candidates who supported the striking Fairpoint Communications workers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

“I want someone in office who supports the striking workers,” Castonia said. “All the races and referendum questions are important. I always vote, but the labor issues seem more important this election.”

The polls close at 8 p.m.