PORTLAND, Maine (November 04, 2009)-Maine voters have torpedoed a state law that would have allowed gay couples to marry.

At issue was a law passed by the Maine Legislature last spring that would have legalized same-sex marriage.

With 84 percent of the precincts reporting early Wednesday, gay-marriage foes had 53 percent of the vote.

The law was put on hold after conservatives launched a petition drive to repeal it in a referendum.

Gay marriage has now lost in every single state - 31 in all - in which it has been put to a popular vote.

Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine.

Meanwhile, in Washington state, voters there are narrowly approving the state's new "everything but marriage" law that marks a significant expansion of rights for gay couples.

With about 50 percent of the expected vote counted, Referendum 71 was leading 51 percent to 49 percent.

The measure asks voters to approve or reject the final expansion to the state's domestic partnership law, which gives registered domestic partners additional state-granted rights currently given only to married couples.

The expanded law would add benefits, such as the right to use sick leave to care for a domestic partner, and rights related to adoption, child custody and child support.

Opponents have warned that if the domestic partnership measure passed, gay marriage could be the next step in Washington state.

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AP Reports contributed to this story