San Mateo County Press Release

Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Elections

Contact:
Warren Slocum
Chief Elections Officer & Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Phone: (650) 363-4988 Fax: (650) 363-1903 E-mail: wslocum@smcare.org
Web: www.shapethefuture.org www.smcare.org

Alternate: David Tom, Phone: 650.312.5222 E-mail: dtom@smcare.org

Slocum to Serve on Statewide Student Voting Project

(Redwood City, CA) - San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum has been named to a special statewide Student Voting Project initiated by the Secretary of State’s Office to develop strategies to encourage youth voting. The group includes nine county registrars, nine county superintendents of education and thirteen educational organizations. It is co-chaired by California’s Secretary of State Bruce McPherson and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.

“This year marks the 35th Anniversary of the ratification of the 26th Amendment which gave 18-20 year-olds the right to vote. In 1972, 55% of the 18-24 year-old voted in the Presidential election, thirty years later in 2004 only 45% of our young people voted. It is fitting that we rekindle the flame of engagement and build on the volunteerism that is a hallmark of our youth. Working with the schools and our community partners, I believe we can increase youth voter registration and participation. Their voices deserve to be heard,” said Slocum.

The project was designed to identify partnerships between the county elections officials and county superintendents of schools and other community organizations, like the League of Women Voters, to launch projects, test strategies and create working, successful models that engage young people in the democratic process and that can be replicated across California and shared with other states.