Maryland, Maine and Minnesota are giving a thumbs up to same-sex marriage questions in early returns.

Maryland voters were approving the state’s Civil Marriage Protection Act of 2012, but it is close, and a long ways from final.

The Maryland Legislature had created a civil marriage license and protected churches, only to see the measure end up on the ballot. Maryland voters were also drawn to the polls with a proposal to expand gambling in the Old Line State. Gov. Martin O’Malley, who gets mentioned as a Democratic presidential prospect, supported the same-sex marriage vote.

Maine revisited same-sex marriage with Question 1. Three years after Maine voters rejected legislation to allow same-sex couples to wed, they were narrowly approving the same question from 2009. Voters were asked if they wanted the state of Maine to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Minnesota voters were asked to amend the state Constitution to deny marriage to same-sex couples. It is still early in the count, but the margin to reject is strong.

The amendment provides that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota. Even if voters reject the amendment, same-sex marriage would still be illegal by statute.

UPDATE: Same-sex marriage issues are leading in four states, with results in for Washington. Referendum 74 was not settled, but it was ahead. The vote in Maine was called in favor of same-sex marriage, a national first at the polls.