Amended in Assembly May 19, 2015

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 42

Introduced by Senator Huff

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(Coauthor: Senator Roth)

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chávez, Kim, Lackey, and Ridley-Thomas)

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April 14, 2015

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 42—Relative to Voter Awareness Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 42, as amended, Huff. Voter Awareness Week.

This measure would proclaim the week of October 18 through October 24, 2015, as Voter Awareness Week.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The opportunity for all eligible people to register
and to vote is essential to an effective democracy; and

WHEREAS, California’s voter turnout among young adults is
low compared to that of other states; it was only 41.6 percent in
the 2012 presidential election; and

WHEREAS, Californians under the age of 25 increased their
registration rates by 8 percent in 2012; and

WHEREAS, Young adults who are provided with practical
information about voting feel more prepared to participate and
become active, engaged citizens who will benefit California’s
political growth in the future; and

WHEREAS, While most youth voter outreach efforts target
college students, there is a tremendous gap in registration and
turnout rates between young adults with college experience and
those without; and

WHEREAS, Young adults are the best resource available to
encourage other young adults to register and to vote; and

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WHEREAS, Vote America Now, the sponsor, promotes the
involvement of young adults in civic education opportunities,
activities, and discussions that can increase the likelihood that
others in their households will vote; and

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WHEREAS, Involving young adults in civic education
opportunities, activities, and discussion can increase the likelihood
that others in their households will vote; and

WHEREAS, People who begin voting at a younger age are more
likely to vote consistently later in life; and

WHEREAS, As young adults comprise a larger portion of the
voting population than begin delete the end delete baby boomers, it is necessary to
encourage the youth of our state to participate in the democratic
system in order to train and prepare the next generation of political
and civic leaders; and

WHEREAS, California has the opportunity to boost registration
rates among young adults through the use of its online voter
registration application, launched in 2012, which young adults
prefer to the traditional voter registration application; and

WHEREAS, A primary purpose of California’s schools is to
prepare students to become active citizens; and

WHEREAS, There is an ongoing need to increase youth civic
participation; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the
week of October 18 through 24, 2015, as Voter Awareness Week;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages all of California’s
public schools to participate in Voter Awareness Week activities;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

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CORRECTIONS:

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