As the 2026 election approaches, Maine educators have access to a range of state resources that help students understand elections, civic participation, and their roles in a democracy.

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Civics webpage, available through the Maine DOE Arts and Humanities Hub, connects educators to free classroom materials, professional learning opportunities, and other resources for teaching government, citizenship, civic participation, and democratic principles. These resources can help educators build students’ civic knowledge while connecting classroom learning to current events and opportunities for community engagement. They also complement student programs offered by the Maine Department of the Secretary of State.

Bring the Election Process into the Classroom

The Maine Student Mock Election gives students the chance to experience the election process while learning about candidates and state and national issues. The 2026 Maine Student Mock Election will take place on October 27, 2026.

More than 21,000 students from over 115 schools participated in the 2024 Maine Student Mock Election. Through the program, students can explore current issues, consider different perspectives, cast mock ballots, and see how individual votes contribute to statewide results.

Educators can visit the Maine Student Mock Election webpage to register their schools and learn more.

The election season also provides an opportunity to help eligible students prepare for voting. Maine residents who are 16 or 17 years old and U.S. citizens may preregister to vote, preparing them to vote in general elections when they turn 18. The Secretary of State’s Student Voter Registration Drive webpage includes resources to help students and educators organize a school voter registration drive.

Recognize Young Civic Leaders

Civic engagement extends beyond elections to include leadership, advocacy, and service to others. The Maine Secretary of State’s Office presents the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award, which annually recognizes one Maine resident age 25 or younger who demonstrates leadership, a commitment to social justice, and efforts to improve the quality of life in their community.

The National Association of Secretaries of State established the award in 2021 in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis and his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and public service.

Students may nominate themselves or another eligible young person using the nomination form available on the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award webpage. Completed nominations must be emailed to sos.office@maine.gov by October 30, 2026. Nominees must be aged 25 or younger at the time of the award presentation.

Connect Classroom Learning with Civic Life

Resources from the Maine DOE and the Secretary of State’s Office give educators multiple ways to make civics relevant and meaningful for students. Teachers can use Maine DOE resources to build foundational knowledge of government and civic responsibility, then connect that learning to hands-on experiences such as mock elections, voter registration, and youth leadership opportunities. These experiences can also create space for students to ask questions, share their perspectives, and consider how they can contribute to their communities.

Students do not have to be old enough to vote to take part in civic life. They can understand how elections work, examine public issues, practice informed decision-making, and build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate in Maine’s democracy.

For more information, contact Geoffrey Wingard at Geoffrey.Wingard@maine.gov.

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning, in partnership with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State and the Maine Semiquincentennial Commission, launched its new traveling initiative “Civics on the Road” at Main Street Middle School in Madison in September. This program debuted on Constitution Day, September 17, 2025, immersing local fifth- and sixth-grade students in hands-on civic learning.

The experience began by transporting students back to 1776. They explored the origins of the nation’s founding documents and considered the roles and rights of people who were living at the time. Students then rotated through interactive stations designed to bring democracy to life:

• Gameshow Government—This quiz-style competition challenged students on civic participation, checks and balances, and rights and responsibilities.
  
• We Hold These Truths—Students examined grievances from the Declaration of Independence, viewed a full-scale replica of the document, and practiced 18th-century writing with quill pens. “They wrote the Declaration of Independence using quills! What did they do if they made a mistake?” one student asked in amazement.
  
• Why and Why Not: Debate—Students engaged in structured debates about who should be allowed to participate in government decisions, weighing arguments of fairness, representation, and qualifications.
  
• How Voting Works and the Role of the Free Press—Students became reporters, interviewing town officials and Maine’s Secretary of State on the responsibilities of public office and the integrity of elections.

The day culminated in a mock election. On the central ballot question: Should all people living here have the right to participate in decisions about government? With Madison Town Clerk Cheyenne Stevens and Madison Town Manager Denise Ducharme overseeing the process, students checked in, cast private ballots, and deposited them into a secure ballot box. “I Voted” stickers were displayed proudly, as students observed tabulation procedures and learned about safeguards like double counts.

“This is the best day of my life!” one student exclaimed.

Madison’s fifth- and sixth-grade election tally was 51 – yes and 28 – no. The discussion that followed highlighted the meaning of community and the importance of society continuing to function, even when votes don’t go everyone’s way.

“Civics on the Road” will visit one school per month throughout the 2025-2026 school year, with programming tailored to elementary, middle, and high school learners. Each visit includes interactive stations, a culminating town hall, and optional professional learning for educators to extend civic instruction beyond the day itself.

“This is more than a history lesson; it’s an invitation for students to see themselves as civic actors,” Geoff Wingard, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist, said. “Launching in Madison set the tone perfectly. Students embraced the day with energy, curiosity, and a genuine sense of civic responsibility.”

As the country reflects on 250 years since its establishment, the Maine DOE, the Secretary of State’s office, and the Maine Semiquincentennial Commission are inviting schools, community partners, and local leaders to participate in this statewide effort to strengthen civic education.

Schools interested in hosting “Civics on the Road” may fill out this form. For more information or with questions, please contact Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist Geoffrey Wingard at Geoffrey.Wingard@maine.gov.