The Midcoast Chapter of League of Women Voters has had a busy spring working locally to help high school and college students register to vote for the first time.  The weekly snow storms of March caused a few cancellations but they were rescheduled in May in time for students to be eligible to vote for the first time in the June 12 election. 

In March, 79 students at Camden Hills Regional High School filled out voter registration cards, according to news release from the League of Women Voters.

Additionally, several University of Maine students on the Rockland campus and at the Maine State Prison registered to vote.  Medomak Valley High School seniors had a voter registration assembly on May 1 where 18 seniors turned out to register and on May 3, Oceanside High School held its student registration and 41 registered. 

So far, the Midcoast Chapter has helped 146 students access the rite of passage in toward engaged citizenship.

The Midcoast Chapter said it provides the opportunity to all the schools in Knox County and looks forward to working with them and their crop of future voters that become eligible each year. 

The League has worked for more than 90 years to encourage all Americans to take charge of their democracy.  A key element has been voter registration and education to inspire life-long voting habits. 

The League of Women Voters believes all citizens have a role to play in inspiring and empowering young citizens to register and voter.

The last voter registration event for May will be May 15 at the Rockland Public Library at the League of Women Voters Forum, Primaries, Parties and Ranked Choice Voting: What you need to know