AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. Paul LePage and Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap are encouraging Maine residents to register as organ donors.
LePage and Dunlap joined officials from Donate Life New England and people who have benefited from organ donation at the Statehouse on Friday to raise awareness for the issue.
Dunlap's office says more than 730 lives in New England were saved last year thanks to organ donors. LePage says 5,000 people in the region are currently waiting for life-saving organs.
Officials say 52 percent of Mainers who renew their license at their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles office register as organ donors. Residents can also register online.