The Election Connection
2026 Elections – Upcoming Events at Bates
Wednesday, Oct. 28 – BOND Presents: Building Community in an Eroding Democracy
Panel: 4:15–5:30 PM in Chase Lounge
Dialogue and Dinner: 5:45–7:00 PM in the Benjamin Mays Center
Register to attend here.
The Harward Center for Community Partnerships, in collaboration with the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Campus Life, and the Politics and Rhetoric Film and Screen Studies Departments, have exciting events coming up for the 2026 Midterms.
Faculty members John Baughman, Marcelle Medford, Clarisa Pérez-Armendáriz, and moderator Michael Sargent will explore the challenges facing democracy and how we can build community across differences. Register to attend here.
Friday, Oct. 23 – Free Press GOTV Screen Printing
2pm-5pm, Library Arcade
Bates Votes and Multifaith Stringfellows are organizing a screen printing activity for our campus community to print messages on shirts and bags to support voting in the 2026 election. We’ll have free t-shirts, bags, and paper for printing!
Tuesday, Oct. 27 – Bates Vote Early Day
9am – 7pm, Shuttle Departs Every Hour From Commons
Sign up for a ride here.
Bates Votes is running free shuttles from campus to Lewiston City Hall so members of our campus community can vote early and avoid the lines on Election Day. From 10am – 12pm, we’ll have free Donuts for Democracy. From 1pm – 4pm, we’ll have free Pizza to the Polls. President Jenkins will be taking the 3pm shuttle to vote!
Monday, Nov. 2 – Campus GOTV
8:30pm, location TBA
Bates Votes will be hosting a GOTV mobilization and training for Election Day volunteers. Pick up your Bates Votes t-shirt, sign up for a volunteer shift, and help place voting signs around campus the night before Election Day!
Sign up to volunteer for a shift on Election Day, and we’ll send you an email about the Monday night GOTV Gathering.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Election Day at Bates!
7am – 8pm, Voter Resource Table Outside Commons
Sign up to volunteer on Election Day here.
Bates Votes will be tabling at Commons all day on Election Day, while the polls are open. Volunteers can pick up new Bates “I Voted” stickers, nonpartisan voter guides, and additional resources for student voting. Walking groups will depart every 15 minutes to walk to the Armory, and we’ll also have a van shuttle to get students living in 96 Campus Ave and JB dorms to the Montello School.
7am – 10:30am: We’ll have free Donuts for Democracy.
1pm – 8pm: We’ll have free Pizza to the Polls.
Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Election Night Watch Party
7pm – Midnight, Commons 221/222
Join fellow students in Commons 221/222 from 7 PM to midnight to watch election results. Pizza will be provided.
Wednesday, Nov. 4 – Post-Election Panel
4:15 PM, Commons 221/222
Join Bates faculty in Commons 221/222 at 4:15 PM to discuss the election results and why they matter.