PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis has scheduled voter registration drives at Central Falls High School and North Kingstown High this week.
The visits to North Kingstown High -- which also serves students from Jamestown -- on Thursday, Sept. 24, and Central Falls High on Friday, Sept. 25, are timed to beat the Oct. 3 deadline for registering to vote in their local elections on Nov. 3.
In Jamestown and Central Falls, a number of municipal offices are on the ballot while North Kingstown voters will decide a $10 million sewer bond.
The emphasis on registering students reflects the reality of a record-breaking year that saw Rhode Island set new marks for the number of registered voters as well as primary and general election turnout. More than 700,000 people were eligible to vote in last November’s election.
“Nearly 9 out of 10 eligible Rhode Islanders are already registered. The growth in our state will come from reaching out the newly eligible groups like students and recently naturalized citizens,” said Mollis.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 46 percent of eligible 18-to-24-year-olds were registered to vote on Election Day 2006. Just 22 percent actually voted in that election.
Mollis plans to stage voter registration drives at every Rhode Island high school, college and citizenship ceremony leading up to the 2010 elections. In order to register, you must be age 18 by Election Day 2010, a U.S. citizen and a resident of Rhode Island.
“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.
As Secretary of State, Mollis oversees many aspects of federal, state and municipal elections held in Rhode Island. His office also publishes guidebooks that include important dates in the election cycle as well as outline how to run for office and how to register to vote.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier for Rhode Islanders to vote, helping businesses grow and making government more open and accessible. For more information about registering to vote, visit www.sec.state.ri.us/elections.
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