Voter Registration
Navigating the Voting Process
If you are a U.S. citizen and will be 18 years or older by Election Day (Tuesday, November 7, 2023), you are eligible to register and vote in the U.S. Elections.
Same Day Voter Registration:
If you have not registered, or need to update your voter registration since you last voted, you will need to register to vote on Election Day at the polls. If you are at the Armory, go to the table that says “Bates Voter Registration.”
You will need to provide your Bates ID, which establishes your proof of identity. You will also need to show the Election Clerk your Voter Registration Badge (found on Garnet Gateway), which establishes your proof of residency. Please find the Voter Registration Badge using the instructions below.
*For off-campus students, please bring your Bates ID and a piece of mail (such as a bill or utility) that was sent to your residential address.
| When you are logged into Garnet Gateway, look at the sidebar menu for Account & Access and click the “Voter Registration” link. |  |
| Your Voter Registration Badge will show up that discloses your chosen name, your legal name, and your local address on campus. You will show this to your local elections clerk when you register or check in to vote on Election Day. |  |
| If you do not have a smartphone, you will need to print a copy of your Voter Registration Badge and bring it with you to the polls on Election Day. |  |
How to Register to Vote in Maine
Any U.S. citizen who is 18 years or older and resides in Maine, is eligible to register and vote in the Maine elections.
Register to Vote on Campus!
Now – Monday, October 16, 2023
You can register to become a Maine voter on campus at Ladd Library or Post & Print. Find the display with green voter registration cards, and complete the front and back of the card, according to these instructions. Drop your completed cards in the voter registration box. If you’d like to be sent a voter registration card to your mailbox or workplace, please send an email to Jenna Dela Cruz Vendil at jvendil@bates.edu.
Bates Voter Registration Table at the Ladd Library
Voter Registration & Early Voting at Lewiston City Hall
Tuesday, October 10 – Thursday, November 2nd, 2023
Starting 30 days from the election, absentee ballots are available for students, faculty, and staff who wish to vote early before Election Day. You may register to vote and vote early at Lewiston City Hall (27 Pine Street) Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Same-Day Voter Registration
Election Day- Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Maine allows in-person voter registration at the polls on Election Day. To register, boarding students will need to provide their Bates ID as proof of identity and present a Garnet Gateway badge as proof of residency. You can find this badge under “Account & Access: About me: Voter Registration”.
Bates Proof of Residency Badge
For students who live off-campus, should bring a piece of mail such as a bank statement, rent receipt or utility bill, that confirms their residential address for voter registration.
How to Register to Vote Outside of Maine
For students wishing to register in their home state, please complete the form below. For additional questions and support, contact Jenna Dela Cruz Vendil at jvendil@bates.edu.
Absentee Ballot Form
- Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person at the voting place.
- You do not need to have a specific reason or be unable to vote at the voting place on Election Day to use an absentee ballot.
- In Maine, you may request your absentee ballot here: https://apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl
Are You Registered to Vote?
Some states allow you to check the status of your voter registration. While Maine isn’t one of them, you may be able to use this tool to check your voter registration status in your home state.