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For Planning Purposes
September 24, 2018

MEDIA ADVISORY

National Voter Registration Day: Secretary of State Padilla to make Major Announcement on Pre-Registration at John H. Francis Polytechnic High School

LOS ANGELES – Secretary of State Alex Padilla is marking National Voter Registration Day (September 25) with a visit to Francis Polytechnic High School and a major announcement about pre-registration activity in California. Since September 2016, California 16- and 17- year-olds have been able to pre-register to vote, having their voter registration then become automatically activated when they turn 18.

Secretary Padilla will also hold an assembly to discuss the importance of voting and the role young people can play in shaping the future through civic participation. Secretary of State staff will help students register and pre-register to vote.

Los Angeles Unified partnered with Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office and the Los Angeles City Clerk’s Office on the first-of-its-kind effort to ensure that every eligible student is registered or pre-registered to vote. The City Clerk’s office provided voter registration forms to more than 150 campuses – high schools, continuation schools and adult schools – in advance of National Voter Registration Day, and the District and City partners joined together in hosting a webinar to train student leaders how to register their peers. The district wide voter registration effort will continue through October 19.

Earlier this year, Secretary Padilla 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.

This visit also includes Secretary Padilla’s statewide tour for High School Voter Education Weeks. These weeks provide 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.

*Media wishing to attend should RSVP to sos.press@sos.ca.gov

Who:

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla
School Board Vice President Nick Melvoin
School Board Member Kelly Gonez
Francis Polytechnic High School Principal Elidia Vazquez

When:

Tuesday, September 25, 2018
8:00 AM

Where:

John H Francis Polytechnic High School
12431 Roscoe Blvd
Sun Valley, CA 91352

Visuals:

Assembly and rally with Secretary of State Padilla and students.
Voter registration drive, with students using tablets and paper forms to register to vote.

Contacts:

Secretary Padilla: Jesse Melgar (213) 797-9920
LAUSD: Barbara Jones, (213) 219-7982

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