Why We Vote
Explore this page to understand the importance of voting. We must seek to understand the importance of voting in this state and country, while also recognizing that people's social locations will shape different relationships with voting and electoral politics. Why We Vote is our mission to aid students as they develop a relationship with voting.
Why should I vote?
Voting is a personal and complicated decision. Many factors can influence whether or not a person decides to cast their vote. Why you end up voting should be up to you and Bates Votes respects a person’s decision to not engage in electoral politics. Last fall, we created a series of events to discuss and engage with the question, why do we vote? Scroll down to see some of these events!
How important are student votes?
The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement ( CIRCLE) at Tufts has created a Youth Electoral Significance Index which determined the top 15 US Senate races and the top 50 US House races in which young people's vote will have the greatest impact in the 2024 election. Their work clearly explains what youth voters can do and have done when they are civically engaged. Click below to learn more about their work.
Does my vote count?
Yes! Every Vote Counts is a student-led, nonpartisan organization committed to ensuring that the ideals of our representative democracy are fully and fairly reflected in our federal, state, and local systems of voting. Click below to learn more about their work.
Voter Suppression in Maine
There is a long history of voter suppression in the U.S. and in Maine that often targets people based on their race, gender, sexuality, religion, age, ability, and ideologies.