BANGOR, Maine — People across the state showed up to the polls Tuesday to cast their votes, some for the first time.
Among those first-time voters are youth hoping to make their voices heard.
"I feel like right now as young people we need our voices to be heard and it's a good year, especially right now, its the biggest year to vote," first-time voter Ayanna Jackson said.
They said issues like the state of the economy is what brought them to the polls today.
"It's kind of of hard to buy groceries and survive right now and having children and seeing all that is happening has led me to want to get out there and vote and see if I can make an impact," first-time voter Esue Pinkhim said.
Dylan Gerrish, who is also a first-time voter, said it is not a particular issue but rather the people in his life who inspired him to vote.
"There are a lot of women in my life that I care about so I'm mostly voting for them," Gerrish said.
One group looking to elevate young voices is Maine Youth Power, which is an organization that works with rural and suburban youth to promote basic rights and fair opportunities.
"I think that it's important for all people to vote, and it's important for first-time voters and all young people to vote because they have a unique perspective looking forward into the future," Jane Dawson, the policy director of Maine Youth Power, said.
She said on Election Day leaders from the group went to over 15 different polling locations across the state encouraging voters at the polls to text their friends to vote.
"This is one of the more effective ways that we can rustle any more last-minute voters to the polls on the day of the election," Dawson said.
For these first-time voters, they are feeling empowered coming out of the polls.
"Share your opinions, tell everyone what you believe in, and don't be ashamed one way or another," Gerrish said.