Voter Registration
Navigating the Voting Process
The Harward Center works to support student voter engagement and civic education through the Bates Votes initiative, a non-partisan effort to inspire and support voting as a pillar of democracy. The Center supports faculty and staff incorporating voter engagement and civic participation through it’s Bates Votes Faculty Champions Program, Athletic Engagement, and staff presentations. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to become registered voters and to exercise their right to vote in Maine or in their home state/country. For more updated election engagement information, please visit www.batesvotes.org and @batesvotes on Instagram.
If you are a U.S. citizen and will be 18 years or older by Election Day (Tuesday, November 8, 2022), you are eligible to register and vote in the U.S. Elections.
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 17, 2022
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 11 – Thursday, November 3rd, 2022
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 8, 2022
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. 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.