BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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Date of Hearing: May 22, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
Richard Gordon, Chair
SCR
42 (Huff) - As Amended May 19, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 37-0
SUBJECT: Voter Awareness Week.
SUMMARY: Proclaims the week of October 18 through October 24,
2015, as Voter Awareness Week. Specifically, this resolution
makes the following legislative findings:
1) California's voter turnout among young adults is low
compared to that of other states; it was only 41.6% in the
2012 presidential election.
2) Californians under the age of 25 increased their
registration rates by 8% in 2012.
3) 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 climate in the future.
4) 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
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and those without.
5) Involving young adults in civic education opportunities,
activities, and discussion can increase the likelihood that
others in their households will vote; and people who begin
voting at a younger age are more likely to vote consistently
later in life.
6) As young adults comprise a larger portion of the voting
population than the 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.
7) 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.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
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None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916)
319-2800