ACLU Asks Scarborough Superintendent to Allow Voter Registration

Portland – The ACLU of Maine today sent a letter to the superintendent of Scarborough Schools, reminding her that the First Amendment protects controversial speech on school grounds as long as it does not materially disrupt classwork. The letter follows media reports that Superintendent Julie Kukenberger halted voter registration efforts by students at Scarborough High School.

According to the letter, “There is no exception to the First Amendment for speech that is controversial… [S]tudents have a lot to say, as illustrated by recent student protests across the country, and their speech is protected.”

“Given the superintendent’s acknowledgment that voter registration drives would be valuable at Scarborough High School, we hope she will promptly rescind the current restrictions on such drives,” said Emma Bond, staff attorney with the ACLU of Maine.

The full text of the letter is available here: https://www.aclumaine.org/sites/default/files/scarborough_letter.pdf