UMaine Students working Orono’s polls on Nov. 4 election

Student Voting Ambassadors at the University of Maine will assist the Town of Orono as volunteer poll workers during the upcoming Nov. 4 election.

From 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Collins Center for the Arts, 21 UMaine UVote Student Voting Ambassadors will help with on-site voter registration and provide non-partisan resources to voters seeking additional information before casting their ballots. 

Among this year’s cohort of student poll workers is Emily Ebersman of Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, a third-year English major with a political science minor. Ebersman said she volunteered to participate in the democratic process and help ease people who might be intimated about voting, assuring them that their voice matters. Political sciences courses taught her “about the importance of stepping up and being proactive.

“I think that it is so important for students to volunteer as poll workers because engaging young people is crucial,” Ebersman said. “When students volunteer as poll workers they help to foster an environment where other students feel comfortable doing something new, and feel that they can ask questions to fellow young people.” 

This work is made possible through UMaine UVote, a program that associate professor of political science Robert Glover has been a part of since 2014. Glover has overseen the program in collaboration with the Division of Student Life, particularly the Center for Student Involvement Director James Psalidas. 

Each year, UVote members volunteer to work the polls during the general election, helping people register to vote and offering education and outreach on civic engagement in advance of Election Day. 

“I think that this work will serve me in my future endeavors because it is just another way in which I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Working as a UMaine Student Voting Ambassador has brought me out of my shell in many ways, improving my communication skills,” Ebersman said. “There has been a great amount of trial and error, but I think that every time I step into an unfamiliar role and learn a new skill, I am improving myself academically and professionally.”

Their efforts have not only supported Orono’s election operations but have also helped increase voter turnout among UMaine students. 

From 2016 to 2020, the program contributed to a 10.8% increase in voter turnout among UMaine students. In 2020, over 85% of students on campus were registered to vote, and nearly 73% participated in the election. During the 2022 midterm elections, UMaine experienced the highest voter turnout rate across all nine members of the America East Conference, thanks in part to UVote.

“The civic habits people develop early in adulthood will follow them throughout the rest of their life,” Glover said, “The goal is to demystify voting and make it more engaging.”

For the upcoming election on Tuesday, voters will encounter a variety of UVote ambassadors and local community volunteers from all political backgrounds. 

“Voters can expect to register at the polls if they haven’t done so already. There will be lots of happy, helpful people behind a big set of tables that are ready to register folks,” said Glover. “Then, voters will get a ballot with two referendum questions and a few local election questions.”

At UMaine, parking will be available for voters in designated sections of the CCA lot.  

For more information, contact: Robert Glover, robert.glover@maine.edu; 207.581.1880 

Story by Mello Vancill, news intern. 

Contact: Marcus Wolf, 2076.581.3721; marcus.wolf@maine.edu