This just came our way, through the Secretary of State’s Office:
Secretary of State Ralph Mollis will give RISD and PC students a practical lesson in political science when the Secretary of State’s office visits their campuses later this week as part of a statewide college voter registration drive.
“Students who register to vote are more likely to become active and informed citizens of this state. Some of these young people will be our leaders of tomorrow. Now is the time to engage them,” says Mollis.
RISD students can register at The Met this Tuesday, April 20, from 11am to 1pm; PC students can do the same this Thursday, April 22, from 11am to 2pm at the Slavin Center.
The drive is part of a push to get younger voters to the polls. Mollis plans to visit every Rhode Island high school and college leading up to the 2010 elections. His emphasis on young people reflects the reality of record-breaking elections in 2008 that saw Rhode Island set new marks for the number of registered voters as well as voter turnout.
The initiative is a partnership with the state Board of Elections. In order to register to vote in this year’s elections, students must be 18 by November 2nd, residents of Rhode Island, and U.S. citizens. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 59 percent of eligible 18-to-24-year-olds were registered to vote on Election Day 2008. Just 49 percent actually voted in that election.