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For Planning Purposes
September 20, 2019

MEDIA ADVISORY

Secretary of State Alex Padilla to Visit Golden Valley High School in Merced

MERCED, CA - Secretary of State Alex Padilla continues High School Voter Education Weeks (September 16-27) with a visit to Golden Valley High School in Merced on Monday, September 23.

Secretary Padilla will discuss the importance of voting and the role young people can play in shaping the future through civic participation. Secretary of State and Merced County Registrar staff will be onsite to help students register and pre-register to vote.

In preparation for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary, Secretary Padilla will be encouraging all eligible 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. Once pre-registered, their registration will automatically activate when they turn 18. Secretary Padilla will also be highlighting the importance of ensuring California has an accurate count of its residents in the 2020 Census.

In 2018, 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.

The California Education Code designates the last two full weeks in April and September to be High School Voter Education Weeks. 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.

*Media interested in attending should RSVP to sos.press@sos.ca.gov

Who:

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla

When:

Monday, September 23, 2019
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Where:

Golden Valley High School
2121 E. Childs Ave
Merced, CA 95431

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:
Roberto Negrete, (213) 332-2299

MUHSD:
Kevin Swartwood, (209) 325-1800 kswartwood@muhsd.org

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