FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2012
Contact: Megan Sanborn
(207) 626-8405

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

Maine Students to Cast Their Ballots in Maine’s 2012 Student Mock Election
Secretary of State, Charles E. Summers, Jr. to Host “Rally and Tally” Event in Augusta

WHO:   Elementary, middle, and high school students from across the state; First Lady Ann LePage; Secretary of State Charlie Summers; congressional and legislative candidates.

WHAT:   Students at over 240 schools are casting ballots in Maine’s Student Mock Election 2012. Students will cast mock ballots for the offices of President, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, and will vote on the five statewide referendum questions appearing on Maine ballots.  A “Rally and Tally” event, hosted by the Secretary of State, will give students an opportunity to collect statewide mock election results by phone and via the internet and to report those results throughout the afternoon and evening.  The Rally and Tally event will also provide students with an opportunity to hear directly from candidates, to make campaign posters, to make stump speeches, and to vote on special mock election event ballot.

WHERE:?? Elections are being held at participating schools across the state. The “Rally and Tally” event is being held at the Augusta Armory, Western Avenue, in Augusta.

WHEN:?? Student voting will occur throughout the day, Tuesday, October 30 with the ?Rally and Tally? event will taking place from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

WHY:   The mock election program engages students in election-related activities, preparing them for life-long participation in the democratic process.

FMI:   For more information, visit: www.maine.gov/sos/kids/mockelection/index.html