Will Maine college students, motivated by crucial Senate race, choose to vote here?
Bowdoin Students Gear Up for 2026 Midterm Vote with “Sip and Stroll”
On a brisk October morning, a group of Bowdoin College students left the campus café, lattes in hand, and walked down Main Street to Brunswick Town Hall. The stroll, organized by the non‑partisan group Bowdoin Votes, was part of a broader effort to boost voter turnout among college students ahead of November 3’s statewide elections—most notably the tightly contested U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.
The event, dubbed the “Sip and Stroll,” offered students free hot chocolate and a chance to discuss the upcoming contest before heading to the polling place. “I felt like my vote would have more of an impact here than it would in Alabama,” said 19‑year‑old Isa Alvidrez, one of the students who walked to the polls. “It’s a much more challenging race,” added 18‑year‑old Caden Christopher, who hails from Connecticut. “I’m generally not a ‘vote blue no matter who’ person, but I think in the immediate, it’s important that Democrats get control of the Senate.”
Bowdoin Votes, which registered 287 students and helped secure more than 65 absentee ballots for those who preferred to vote in their hometowns, is not a partisan organization. Coordinators Amelia Kane and Caroline Clinton—both 21‑year‑old seniors from Massachusetts—emphasized that their mission is simply to get voters to the ballot, wherever that may be.
Students at Bowdoin are largely out of state: only 11 percent are Maine residents. The college’s non‑partisan voter‑engagement program, like the University of Maine’s UVote, offers guidance on registration, absentee voting and the logistics of voting on campus. “I’ve seen a lot of people be extremely passionate about this election,” said UVote ambassador Cecilia Pike, 19, from Jay. “They’re passionate about other people registering, because they understand the weight of their vote.”
The Senate race has drawn national attention, with both major parties courting young voters. A 2026 New York Times/Press Herald/Siena poll showed 19‑to‑24‑year‑olds leaning slightly toward Jackson, though the sample was too small to be statistically significant. A Washington Post poll and a Suffolk University survey also indicated a Democratic advantage among this age group. Meanwhile, a national spring poll found that 18‑to‑29‑year‑olds favored Democrats, citing economic concerns and a perception that the country is “on the wrong track.”
Maine’s young electorate has historically been highly engaged. In the 2022 midterms, 35.7 percent of 18‑29‑year‑olds voted—well above the national average of 23 percent. “The most concerning issue for young voters is affordability,” said visiting professor Caroline Pippert, who studies voter behavior at Bowdoin. “Young voters are generally issues‑focused.”
Party officials offered contrasting viewpoints. Kristina Parker, communications director for the Maine Republican Party and a Gen‑Z voter herself, warned that “Maine Democrats have controlled the state legislature for 48 out of the last 50 years, and the invoices for their outrageous policies are landing in young people’s hands. Young voters can’t afford a house in Maine, let alone bankroll leftist wasteful spending from Augusta Democrats.” In response, Maine Democratic deputy organizing director Reese Remington said, “Young Mainers have a critical voice in this election and they know better than anyone that to have an affordable future in Maine, Susan Collins must go.”
The debate over whether students should vote in Maine or in their home towns has produced opposing op‑eds from Colby College students. Cleo Rehkopf argues that voting in Maine would dilute local votes, while senior Anthony Simescu counters that many Americans move frequently, and a town “belongs only to those who never leave.”
The logistical question is also practical. Maine allows same‑day registration and does not require an ID at the polls, making it easier for college students to cast a ballot. Bowdoin Votes has kept a list of dorm‑street addresses to help students who only receive mail at the student center, a requirement for voter registration. At Brunswick Town Hall, poll workers greeted the students warmly and were ready for the early‑voting turnout.
Early‑voting data so far shows modest participation. In the Waterville ward that covers Colby College, 7.4 percent of voters have already cast ballots. The University of Maine’s Orono precinct had only four early votes as of October 16, and Brunswick’s split voting districts make statewide early‑voting figures unclear.
Students on the UMaine campus are already preparing for the November election. Cecilia Pike and Justine Ordinario, both ambassadors, noted that while UVote does not endorse candidates, it encourages informed voting and facilitates discussion. Aden Barnes, 18, a Brunswick‑native environmental‑science major, says reproductive rights, women’s health and LGBTQ+ healthcare are the issues that matter most to her. Quinn Chessa, 21, food‑science major and former supporter of former Democratic nominee Graham Platner, now leans toward Jackson but remains largely unaffiliated.
“As a voter, I do feel really quite disconnected,” Chessa told reporters. “Does my vote actually make any change?”
Whether students choose to vote in Maine or in their home states, Bowdoin Votes and similar campus groups continue to play a crucial role in mobilizing the young electorate. In a state where youth turnout can sway the outcome of key races, their participation may be pivotal in the 2026 midterms.
