Bates Votes Fellowship 26-27

Bates Votes

Bates Votes is a nationally-recognized, nonpartisan, student-led voting initiative.  Overseen by the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, it is designed to reach all eligible Bates students to make them aware of their right to vote and to support them in the process of exercising that right.  

Bates Votes Fellowship is a student leadership initiative to support nonpartisan voter engagement in the U.S. elections.   Facilitated by the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, Bates Votes Fellows are committed to engaging and preparing students to participate in our U.S. democracy, coordinate relevant nonpartisan programming to support informed civic action, and efforts beyond voting.  Fellows selected reflect a diverse cross-section of the Bates student body, in interests, activities, passions, and lived experiences. 

2026-27 Bates Votes Fellowship Team:

Nikhil Chavda ’27 – Bates Votes Co-Coordinator

Clio Turner ’27 – Bates Votes Co-Coordinator

Ellen Cabin ’28 – Bates Votes Engagement Fellow

Ava Steinberger ’27 – Bates Votes Engagement Fellow

Annalise Wood ’29 – Bates Votes Engagement Fellow

Julia Young ’28 – Bates Votes Engagement Fellow

man smiling with voter registration sign
people at voting table
Election Day Marcus Delpeche '17 of Wilmington, Del., and the Bates Bobcat encourage members of the Bates community to vote today. Inside Commons, students distributed information about six statewide ballot initiatives and recorded the number of students who had voted in today's election.
woman handing out snacks at a table outside commons
screenshot of women's soccer team on social media
two people holding a voted sticker
three people in bates sweatshirts smiling for the camera
woman creating a voting sign
display for bates votes group on table
two women at a voting table
chalked voting signs on side of building
President Clayton Spencer escorts a group of Bates students to the polls on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 6..In an effort spearheaded by Bates Democrats, Bates Republicans, and the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, Bates students led a bipartisan effort to get out the vote. Volunteers led walking groups from Commons on the hour and every 15 minutes during peak times to the Lewiston Armory on Central Avenue.Student IDs:In red jacket, Maya SeshanIn blue jacket with blue jeans, Ella WesterfieldIn maroon pants, Elise GrossfeldIn glasses, long blondish hair, tied VOTE shirt and bean boots, Maya ChessenOn scooter, Michael RatzimbazfyStudent in blue hood, Harkirat Lally Student in aqua blue jacket, Elektra Smicka
In an effort spearheaded by Bates Democrats, Bates Republicans, and the Harward Center for Community Partnerships, Bates students led a bipartisan effort to get out the vote. Volunteers led walking groups from Commons on the hour and every 15 minutes during peak times to the Lewiston Armory on Central Avenue.In red blazer, Maya Seshan '20 , president of Bates Democrats, of Wilton, Conn.
two wll dressed men giving a talk in front of a crowd
three students at a voter registration drive
students at a voter registration table