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On Nov. 6, Maine voters will decide the fates of five bond issues, two of them pertaining to education and the University of Maine. Students at UMaine have the opportunity to participate in the vote and benefit from the measures.
All five questions are listed on the Maine State Web site.
Question Two would encourage funding research endeavors in the state, which would come to UMaine directly through grants. Question Three would lead to renovations for Aubert Hall and other UMaine labs.
The $50 million portion of funds would be put into the hands of a state agency – the Maine Technology Institute – who would then use the money to hand out grants on a competitive basis.
These grants would be available for projects related to the advancement of Maine’s economy. Faculty, staff and students of Maine colleges, including the University of Maine, would be eligible to apply for funds. These grants would also be expected to attract a matching amount of outside research grants.
Question Three asks voters to approve a $43.5 million bond for variety of building projects at Maine colleges, including UMaine. The University of Maine System Advocacy Homepage lists what the money is planned to be used for at each school. At UMaine, renovation projects would include classrooms and laboratories in Aubert Hall and other academic buildings, with UMaine’s share of the bond money expected to be about $9.7 million. However, there are some restrictions as to how the bond money can be used. Under Maine state law, the improvements made with the bond money must be functional for the long-term. The money may not be used for ongoing expenditures such as tuition subsidies. Nonetheless, university leaders are free to decide how they would like to use the money on each campus.
The money for Questions Two and Three, as with all bond issues, will be borrowed by the State of Maine for the benefit of those receiving the money.
Both bonds will directly and indirectly affect UMaine students.
Students are being encouraged to vote – something that many of them are not interested in.
Second-year political science major Randy Bishop said, “I plan on voting because it will give me something to do even though I know my vote won’t matter.”
One group that is working to interest students in voting on campus is UMaine U Vote.
Kara Soule, a member of UMaine U Vote, gave a rundown of recent activities the organization has held on campus to make students aware of questions two and three, among the other issues.
For the past few weeks, UMaine U Vote has been helping students register to vote and educating them about the bond issues. Voter registration for resident students was conducted in a variety of locations, including the Student Rec Center and the Union.
Currently, UMaine U Vote is passing out literature and mail and will be putting on Rock The Vote on Thursday, Oct. 25. Soule said that UMaine U Vote hopes to have Maine’s senators and representatives at the Rock The Vote event, which is a battle between local bands for $500.
“We think this will be a fun way to bring people’s attention to the bonds and encourage them to go out and vote,” Soule said.
After Nov. 6, the group will still be active, mostly focusing on education and awareness regarding voting and political rights.
Maine law states that voters must be 18 or older by or on Nov. 6 and registered to vote by that date. Students may vote in their hometown, if they are still considered residents, or where they currently reside while at school. Students may visit a polling place to vote or acquire an absentee ballot which can be returned through the mail.
They must declare one location as their official residency and vote only there. Maine residents will also be voting in a special state representative election on Nov. 6.
