Some Deering High students strike over polling site safety concerns

Students at Portland’s Deering High School Opt to Stay Home on Election Day Amid Concerns About School’s Role as Polling Site

Portland, Maine – On Tuesday, November 3, a significant portion of Deering High School’s student body chose to stay home rather than return to campus for the school day. The decision came after the district refused a petition for a virtual school day and students voiced worries that the high school’s use as a polling place could expose them to immigration enforcement officers and Department of Justice (DOJ) poll watchers.

The students’ concerns stem from a mix of past experiences and present anxieties. Last year’s election saw Deering, along with more than a dozen other Maine schools, lock down following hoax shooting threats that disrupted the school day. That incident left many students and parents wary of any future disruptions. Adding to the unease is the school’s demographic profile: Deering serves a particularly diverse student population, many of whom come from immigrant families and rely on school resources such as food programs.

In the weeks leading up to election day, a group of students circulated flyers urging classmates to “stay home” and “skip the lockdown.” The flyers were featured in the school’s student newspaper, The Deering Clocktower, which highlighted the strike and the students’ fear that the school’s dual role could make the day “harder and more stressful.”

Superintendent Ryan Scallon said the district received a petition last week asking for a full virtual school day. “To make a change as drastic as a fully virtual school day, there has to be evidence of a threat,” Scallon told reporters. He explained that after receiving the petition, the school board consulted with the city clerk, the Secretary of State and the local police department. “All advised that there was little risk,” he said.

While the district denied the virtual day, it added extra staff on the campus for the election and stressed that the polling place—located in a self‑contained area in the gymnasium—was separate from regular classroom spaces. Superintendent Scallon also noted that the school remains a “safest space” for many students who depend on school‑run food and other services.

The principal, Aris Ayala Cruz, echoed the call for better preparation for future elections. “There are ways the school could better prepare for future elections,” Cruz told The Clocktower. She suggested that the city and district collaborate on alternative polling locations that would keep students away from the voting process entirely.

On the day of the vote, the Deering polling station opened in the early afternoon. Warden Stephanie Englinton, who was on the scene, described the operation as “smooth and positive.” At that point, more than 900 voters had cast their ballots in the gymnasium. Englinton also noted that DOJ poll watchers had visited the site early in the morning and reported no conflicts.

Deering is one of three Portland Public Schools buildings used as polling sites in 2026, the others being elementary schools Reiche and East End. DOJ poll watchers also visited those sites on Tuesday, according to the Department of Justice’s own reporting.

Although attendance data for the school would not be released until the next day, eyewitness accounts from students suggest that the campus saw noticeably fewer students in both hallways and classrooms. “It can make the school day a little bit harder and a little bit more stressful,” sophomore and student paper reporter Wyatt Clegg said.

The school’s diverse student body, combined with the national attention on immigration enforcement in Maine, amplified the concerns. Students feared that the presence of immigration enforcement officers and DOJ poll watchers could create an intimidating atmosphere, especially given the district’s refusal to switch to a virtual day.

The strike is part of a broader trend of student activism in Maine. Earlier this year, a separate group of high‑school students in Portland organized a “Stay‑home” campaign during the 2024 election after a local elementary school locked down because of hoax shooting threats. The movement was amplified by social media and drew national attention to the safety protocols in schools on election days.

The district’s decision to keep Deering as a polling site has sparked debate among parents, teachers and community leaders. Some argue that having a familiar location for voting could streamline the process and reduce confusion, while others fear that the dual role could jeopardize student safety and well‑being.

As the school district prepares for the upcoming 2028 election cycle, it will need to address both logistical and emotional concerns raised by its students. The question remains whether a future election will see Deering High School either closed for students or relocated entirely as a polling place. For now, the students who chose to stay home have sent a clear message: their safety and comfort matter, especially when the national political climate feels especially tense.