STATE — Maine Youth Action has just launched the Maine Youth Political Portal (MYPP) on October 11. The MYPP is an online resource and inspiration made by and for young Mainers interested in civic engagement, especially those looking to run for publicly elected political office. It consists of a library of informational and training resources, a list of contacts for endorsements and networking with politically savvy mentors, and an intuitive candidate builder page that will enable users to walk through the process of planning their campaigns.

Maine has the oldest population of any state in the country, which is reflected in our decision-making bodies’ demographics. Yet a 2021 poll determined that 44.3% of the population is under 35. Youth are an important bloc of voters, workers, taxpayers, and visionaries. Politicians often craft legislation and policy with the next election cycle in mind. This is known as democratic myopia and can be combated by electing young politicians who consider the long-term. This leads to better decision-making, climate-focused policy, and nuanced solutions to complex problems.

“I believe that youth are not only society’s future but its present. The Maine Youth Political Portal will help young Mainers become civic leaders and take charge of their futures in a time of unstable democracy, distrust in governments, and a decline of civic education in schools,” says Anna Siegel, the former Advocacy Director of Maine Youth Action and an MYPP project lead.

The launch of the Maine Youth Political Portal was intentionally timed with the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November. Comprehensive and experiential civics education improves voter turnout. Providing young people with the tools to run for office makes them more likely to understand the importance of elections, research and evaluate the candidates on their ballot, and volunteer at election booths.

This project also won the national Call For Kindness competition sponsored by Riley’s Way Foundation. Additional funding was awarded by the Youth Grant-Making Council of the Maine Youth Action Network. The project was also highlighted in a recent episode of the top-rated podcast Simple Acts, Big Impact.

“The Maine Youth Political Portal is such an important project and valuable resource for my generation. Youth want our voices to be heard, but getting involved in public policy as a young person can be very daunting,” said a high school-aged volunteer who helped develop website content alongside over a dozen other youth volunteers, Maine Youth Action staff, and a hired intern who created the Maine Youth Political Portal.