Calif. Sec. Of State Padilla To Visit Christopher High In Gilroy

GILROY, CA — California Secretary of State Alex Padilla will visit Gilroy Thursday to continue the High School Voter Education Weeks, an educational initiative that started Sept. 16 as a way to urge youngsters to become involved in the democratic civic process.

Padilla will address an assembly gathered at Christopher High School at 10:30 a.m.

The secretary of state will discuss the importance of voting and the role young people play in shaping the future through civic participation. Padilla will be joined by Santa Clara County Registrar staff will be onsite to help students register and pre-register to vote.

In preparation for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary, Padilla will be encouraging all eligible 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. Once pre-registered, their registration will automatically activate when they turn 18. As the state's most formidable voting expert in California high office, he'll also be highlighting the importance of ensuring California has an accurate count of its residents in the 2020 Census.

In 2018, Secretary Padilla launched a High School Civic Engagement Portal called the HighSchool.sos.ca.gov. High school students can learn more about pre-registration, find out how to be a student poll worker, get resources to host a Student Mock Election on their campus and learn how to organize voter registration drives on their campuses during High School Voter Education Weeks.

The California Education Code designates the last two full weeks in April and September to be High School Voter Education Weeks. This provides an opportunity for high schools and their students to partner with election officials to promote civic education and participation on campus as well as foster an environment that cultivates lifelong voters and active citizens.