PROVIDENCE, R.I. –Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is reminding Rogers High School students that he will stage a voter registration on drive on campus this Wednesday as part of an initiative to get them thinking about public service.
“People who register to vote are more likely to become engaged and effective citizens of Rhode Island. Some of these individuals will become our next generation of leaders. Now is the time to reach out to them,” said Mollis.
The drive is scheduled for Wed., April 14, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. The stop is a partnership with the state Board of Elections, school administrators and the Newport Board of Canvassers.
"I am grateful to our partners for their commitment to this important initiative. Our success will pay dividends for decades to come as these new voters cast ballots election after election,” said Mollis.
In order to register, students must be age 18 by Nov. 2, residents of Rhode Island and U.S. citizens. Mollis plans to stage voter registration drives at every high school and college leading up to the 2010 elections.
His emphasis on young people reflects the reality of record-breaking elections in 2008 that saw Rhode Island set new marks for the number of registered voters as well as voter turnout.
“Nearly 9 out of 10 eligible Rhode Islanders are already registered. The growth in our state will come from reaching out to newly eligible groups like high school and college students,” said Mollis.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 59 percent of eligible 18-to-24-year-olds were registered to vote on Election Day 2008. Just 49 percent actually voted in that election. Students who miss the Secretary of State's visit are still in luck. They can find voter registration forms and answers to frequently asked questions at sos.ri.gov.
The Secretary of State’s office prepares the ballots for all federal, state and municipal elections held in Rhode Island. In addition, the office maintains the state’s central voter registration system and distributes handbooks that explain how to run for office, how to register to vote and how to vote.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier to vote, helping businesses grow and making government more open and accessible. For more information about the programs and services the Secretary of State offers Rhode Islanders, visit sos.ri.gov.
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