UTEC Votes is a campaign to make sure all UTEC community members are registered and informed voters.
Since 2005, our members have hosted youth-led candidate forums. They identify issues that are important to them and draft questions to understand where each candidate stands. On election day, UTEC programming shuts down and we provide transportation to help young adults get out and vote.
Our mission is to ignite and nurture the ambitions of our proven-risk young adults to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success. In addition to our street outreach, jail reentry, transitional coaching, social enterprise workforce development, and HiSet education, UTEC is committed to social justice, civic engagement, and youth organizing.
Register to Vote
2026 Special Election for Massachusetts State Senator (1st Middlesex District)
Following the passing of State Senator Kennedy, a special election will take place to fill the vacant seat. The three candidates on the ballot are State Representative Vanna Howard, Joseph Espinola III, and Sam Meas.
As part of UTEC’s nonpartisan civic engagement work, young adults sat down with each candidate for a youth-led Q&A to better understand where candidates stand on issues impacting their lives and communities, like housing, access to resources, and criminal justice reform.
General Election date: March 3rd
Get to know the candidates running in the general election:
State Representative Vanna Howard (Democrat)
Joseph Espinola III (Unenrolled / Independent)
Sam Meas
(Republican)
Voter Guide Now Available!
Read UTEC’s Voter Guide before you vote to see where candidates stand on housing, jobs, mental health, and second chances straight from our youth-led forum.
Primary date: February 3rd
Get to know the candidates running in the primary election:
MA State Representative Vanna Howard
MA State Representative Rodney Elliott
Youth-led Candidate Forums in the News
From left, UTEC young adults Yandel Miranda and Isabella Mejia conduct an interview with state Rep. Vanna Howard on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (Peter Currier/Lowell Sun)
From left, UTEC young adults Adolfo de la Cruz and Aidan Breen conduct an interview with state Rep. Rodney Elliott on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (Peter Currier/Lowell Sun)
Past Candidate Forums
2023
Watch the 2023 Candidate Forums
2022
Watch conversations from the 2022 Young Adult-Led Attorney General Candidate Series
2021
Watch the 2021 Candidate Forums
Disclaimer: UTEC young adults, staff, and board do not endorse any comments or answers made by candidates. UTEC is committed to social justice and ending racism in all forms. Our goal is to connect voters to candidates’ positions on issues that are central to young adults and our mission.