When the Lewiston Armory opened its doors to voters at 7 a.m., a folding table under a “Bates Student Registration” banner was already set up and fully staffed. In conjunction with elections officials from the City of Lewiston, a group of members of the Bates community — including faculty, staff and students — were armed with clipboards and ready to help students register to vote.
Maine is one of 20 states that offers same-day voter registration, meaning voters can arrive at their polling place, register and cast a ballot all in one day. But it’s a line that can often become long and clogged. The ability to have a separate table for Bates students helps to streamline the process and allow both Bates students and longtime Lewiston residents to register efficiently, vote and be on their way.
Students registering at the Armory should come with their Bates student I.D., Social Security number and proof of residency. Students can find proof of residency on Garnet Gateway under the “Account and Access -> About Me” headings and clicking “Voter Registration.” An email from the nonpartisan group BatesVotes advised students to have this handy before arriving: “Save a screenshot to your photos, as cell service will likely be slow.”
