April 17, 2018 - SACRAMENTO – Monday marked the start of High School Voter Education Weeks (April 16-27) in California. This provides an opportunity for high schools and their students to partner with elections officials to promote civic education and participation on campus and foster an environment that cultivates lifelong voters and active citizens. Following his recent announcement that over 100,000 pre-registrations have been completed by 16- and 17-year olds since the launch of California’s pre-registration program, Secretary of State Alex Padilla issued a challenge to students, parents, teachers, and administrators in an Op-Ed in the Sacramento Bee.

“I am inspired by the nationwide movement of young people engaging in our democracy,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla. “And I have no doubt California students will keep the momentum going with another 100,000 more 16- and 17-year-olds pre-registered to vote before the 2018 November General Election. Even if you will not be old enough to vote in 2018, by pre-registering to vote you’ll be ready to cast a ballot as soon as you turn 18. I call on parents, elections officials, teachers, and school administrators to do everything we can to further empower students and equip them with the tools they need to become civically active.”

Secretary Padilla has also recently launched a High School Civic Engagement Portal, HighSchool.sos.ca.gov. High school students can learn more about pre-registration, find out how to be a student poll worker, get resources to host a Student Mock Election on their campus, and learn how to organize voter registration drives on their campuses during High School Voter Education Weeks.

During High School Voter Education Weeks, Secretary Padilla will be traveling to schools around the state to discuss the importance of voter registration and the role young people can play in shaping the future through civic participation. Secretary of State staff and county elections officials will help students register and pre-register to vote. Secretary Padilla’s first High School Voter Education Weeks event will be at North Hollywood High School on Wednesday, April 18 at 9:00am.

Secretary Padilla and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson’s Letter to California High Schools
Source: CA. SOS

Related Information: 30 Mariposa County Youth, 213 Madera County Youth Join the 100,000 Youth Who Have Pre-Registered to Vote in California
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28 Mariposa County Youth, 208 Madera County Youth Join Nearly 90,000 Youth Who Have Pre-Registered to Vote in California