Bowdoin Votes Lays a Path to the Polls

By Rebecca Goldfine and Adam Bovie

Leading up to Election Day, the College's nonpartisan Bowdoin Votes is tabling all around campus to help students register to vote.

On Tuesday, which happened to be National Voter Registration Day, the students who work or volunteer with the Bowdoin Votes initiative had set up their patriotic table in its usual spot near Moulton Circle.

For her shift during a hot, sunny morning, Ellen Salovaara ’26 sat under a tent festooned with silver sparkles. The tools of a democracy worker lay in front of her: clipboards, voter registration cards, a sealed collection box, and pens. To sweeten the deal, she was also offering cookies, cupcakes, candy, and stickers. A supportive friend stood nearby in an Uncle Sam's hat.

Salovaara, with Amelia Kane ’27, is this year's McKeen Center program coordinator for Bowdoin Votes. “I believe very strongly that everyone should be voting as a way of participating in democracy, voicing your opinion, and speaking up for what you believe in,” Salovaara said, especially college students.

“Most college students are passionate and opinionated people, but not all are interested in voting,” she added. “So we try to channel students' passion into whatever social issues they're interested in into voting, by streamlining the voting process for them.”

The Brunswick town clerk has provided the College with green registration cards that take just “thirty seconds” to fill out, Salovaara said. Bowdoin Votes then delivers them in bulk to the town office every few days. Because college students must re-register every year when they move into new campus housing, Bowdoin Votes is always busy.

June Hartman ’27, a democracy ambassador for Bowdoin Votes, was working part of the morning shift with Salovaara. She said she volunteers with the voting group because, “Voting is one of the most direct ways you can impact what happens in the country.”

Bowdoin was recently recognized for its student voter registration and turnout efforts. Read more about the College's gold seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.

Plus, college is a good time to get into the habit of voting. “Voting is something we should do often, as much as we can,” she added.

Olivia Miller ’27 ambled up to the table to fill out a green card. “It's important to advocate for yourself and for others by voting,” Miller said between nibbles of a cookie.

Mateo Pacelli ’26 and Carlton Steinberg ’24 were waiting in line to fill out their green cards. Pacelli, who is from California, said he wanted to fill out a ballot in Maine where his vote carries more weight. (Smaller states have greater representation in the Senate and Electoral College.)

Steinberg said it's important “to use your voice,” and added that the upcoming election will have a big impact on the country's direction over the new four years. “It's more important than ever to vote,” he said.

Published September 19, 2024