Voter Suppression in Maine
Who is most targeted by voter suppression tactics in Maine?
College students.
Out of state college students in Maine are one of the biggest targets of voter suppression in Maine. In Lewiston this has taken the form of voter intimidation and misinformation. Some common tactics are: telling students they need to register a car in Maine to vote here, telling students that they will lose their federal financial aid if they vote in Maine, and directing students to fake polling places. This is all false. As stated on our Know Your Rights page, Batesies who have lived on campus are eligible to vote in Maine, period. Some places in Maine have made it difficult for college students to register to vote in the town where they go to school. We are fortunate to have a strong relationship with our fantastic city clerk in Lewiston, and this is not an issue we face. Our former Secretary of State, Matt Dunlap, has also worked tirelessly to protect students’ right to vote in Maine (see button below for more information). However, Batesies should be on the lookout for any misinformation intended to discourage Bates students from voting.
Part of the reason for targeting college students is that there is a sense that college students lean one particular political direction. Some believe that students might try to vote in Maine and their home state though there is not evidence nor substantial cases of this happening. These allegations of voter fraud are not based in fact.
People of color.
Maine has a diverse and growing population of people of color, too often made invisible by declarations that we live in the whitest state. As such, people of color in Maine are vulnerable to voter suppression tactics not faced by white voters in the state. These tactics also have to do with voter intimidation, biased questions about citizenship, etc. A lot of the people of color in Maine are young people, so to protect the right to vote for people of color in Maine it is also essential to protect young people’s voting rights.
It is essential that we protect the right to vote of people of color in Maine. One of the important ways to do this is for every voter to know their rights, so that if you or someone you know experience voter intimidation while attempting to register to vote or cast a ballot, you can be sure to have the right information.
Bates Votes supports every Bates student if and when they choose to exercise their right to vote, regardless of political party. If you see pamphlets or posters around campus that attempt to confuse or intimidate Bates students about voting, please contact the Harward Center.
Harward Center for Community Partnerships
161 Wood StreetLewiston, Maine 04240