| Assembly passes teen voter pre-registration bill |
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STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly has once again approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Edwin R. Pacheco and Sen. Rhoda E. Perry to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote when they reach age 18. The bill (2009-H 5005, 2009-S 0085) has passed the General Assembly twice before and been vetoed by the governor each time, but with both chambers of the General Assembly planning to return to the State House later this summer, a potential veto of the bill could be overridden. The governor has one week from when he receives the bill to decide whether to veto it again this year. The bill’s sponsors say they continue to push the legislation because they firmly believe it will have a positive effect on getting young people to go to the polls. “Young people who are registered do vote. The problem isn’t getting young people to show up on Election Day, it’s that fewer of them are registered. Anything we can do to help eligible voters register is going to be an improvement in getting more people involved in the democratic process,” said Representative Pacheco, a Democrat who represents District 47 in Burrillville and Glocester. In the 2004 election, 81 percent of registered voters between the ages of 18 and 24 voted. But only 58 percent of eligible voters that age were registered, compared to 72 percent of all groups. Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Florida already allow preregistration for teens. The sponsors said the change could result in an increased percentage of Rhode Islanders who are registered to vote, especially if voter registration and preregistration drives are held at high schools. Such efforts could also be effectively tied in with civics and history classes, and could result in students – and an electorate – that are more politically aware and involved, said Representative Pacheco, who became involved in local politics by running as a write-in candidate for the Burrillville Town Council when he was a senior at Burrillville High School. Allowing preregistration would be helpful to people who might be away at college when they turn 18 or during the first election for which they are eligible to vote. Advance registration would be more convenient for them, and would increase the likelihood that they will register. Giving teenagers a personal tie to the political process earlier could help them develop a deeper investment in their government throughout their lives, and it’s sure to improve voter registration among young people, said the sponsors. “Young people have a lot of energy, idealism and ideas to offer to democracy and government. They are also forming ideas and habits that they will carry through their lives. We should be making more of an effort to engage them early on so they will make voting one of those habits,” said Senator Perry (D-Dist.3, Providence). For more information, contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Publicist State House Room 20 Providence, RI 02903 (401) 222-2457 |