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 Middlesex District Attorney Candidate Forum
Five questions. One youth-led forum. Young adults from UTEC and More Than Words came together to ask Middlesex District Attorney candidates directly about issues affecting young people and communities impacted by the justice system.
Together, young adults developed the questions and brought their experiences, priorities, and voices directly to the candidates.
Candidate participation: Both Democratic candidates, DA Marian T. Ryan and David Marc Solet, received the same five questions and were invited to submit video responses. Ryan participated and submitted responses to all five questions. Solet declined to participate.
Why This Election Matters
The district attorney has a lot of power over who is charged with crimes, how cases are handled, and when people may get a second chance instead of jail. These decisions can have a major impact on young adults, their families, and their communities.
This youth-led forum gives voters a chance to hear from the candidates while putting young adult voices at the center.
Both UTEC and More Than Words have a strong history of putting young people at the center of advocacy and civic engagement – UTEC through #UTECVotes and More Than Words through The Power is Yours, its youth-led advocacy arm.
Past Candidate Forums
2026
Watch conversations from the 2026 Special Election for Massachusetts State Senator (1st Middlesex District) Candidate Series
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)
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.