( CNN ) -- Lawmakers voted in favor of same-sex marriage in New Hampshire and Maine on Wednesday , leaving Rhode Island as the only other New England state without legislation in favor of the issue . Maine Gov . John Baldacci signed a bill Wednesday legalizing same-sex marriage . Maine Gov . John Baldacci signed his state 's same-sex marriage bill less than an hour after the legislature approved it . `` I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law , and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage , '' Baldacci , a Democrat , said in a statement released as he signed the bill . But he raised the possibility that the citizens of the state would overturn the law , saying : `` Just as the Maine Constitution demands that all people are treated equally under the law , it also guarantees that the ultimate political power in the state belongs to the people . '' It was not immediately clear whether New Hampshire Gov . John Lynch , a Democrat who has questioned the need for such legislation , would sign the bill passed Wednesday by the legislature in his state . Lynch said last week he did not think the law is necessary because the state already recognizes civil unions . If he does sign , his state will join New England neighbors Maine , Vermont , Connecticut and Massachusetts , which all have laws approving same-sex marriages . That would leave Rhode Island , which has same-sex marriage bills pending in its general assembly . Iowa is the only other state that allows same-sex marriages , after the Iowa state Supreme Court ruled unanimously on April 3 that it is illegal to discriminate against same-sex couples by denying them the right to marry . The first gay marriages in the state took place April 27 . California 's state Supreme Court issued a similar ruling in May 2008 , after which some 18,000 gay and lesbian couples got married there . But California voters in November approved Proposition 8 , which amended the state constitution to ban gay marriage . See which states allow same-sex unions » . The state 's high court heard arguments earlier this year about whether Proposition 8 was itself constitutional , but it has not yet issued a verdict . New York Gov . David Paterson introduced legislation in April to make same-sex marriage legal in his state . A similar bill died in the state Senate in 2007 . The District of Columbia voted Tuesday to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere , but does not itself give marriage licenses to gay or lesbian couples . In New Hampshire , the House voted 178-167 in favor of the legislation Wednesday after the Senate approved an amended version of the House 's original bill last week . The amended version distinguishes between civil and religious marriage . It allows each religion to decide whether to acknowledge same-sex marriage , but extends the option of civil marriage to any two individuals . Meanwhile , the Human Rights Campaign , a gay and lesbian rights organization , praised Maine 's new law . `` This law is simply about making sure that loving , committed couples , and their families , receive equal rights and responsibilities . This is a step that will strengthen Maine families , '' Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said in a written statement . A slim majority of Americans are against legal recognition for same-sex marriage , CNN polling found last month . Fifty-four percent of adults questioned in an April 23-26 nationwide CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll said marriages between gay or lesbian couples should not be recognized as valid , while 44 percent said they should be considered legal . But there was a huge gap between the opinions of younger and older people , with younger people far more likely to approve of gay marriage . Nearly 6 in 10 people ages 18 to 34 said same-sex marriages should be legal . Just over 4 in 10 people ages 35 to 49 agreed . Numbers were similar for 50- to 64-year olds , while only 24 percent of people 65 and older agreed . The survey 's sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points .
Maine lawmakers passed bill Wednesday , and governor signed it . New Hampshire lawmakers passed bill , unclear if governor will sign . Three states currently allow same-sex marriage . Poll says 54 percent of Americans are against such measures .