PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Web Editor
(802) 828-2148
May 7, 2000

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Secretary Of State Deb Markowitz Endorses

National High School Voter Registration Week, May 8 –12

Urges Eligible Vermont Students to Get Registered

Montpelier. Do you know a high school student who will be 18 years or older by November 7, 2000? Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz today cast a vote in favor of National High School Voter Registration Week,
May 8 -12, and urged students to register to vote at their school.

"Voter participation nationwide is on a steady decline, particularly among our youth," said Secretary Markowitz. "In hopes of combating voter apathy, this national effort will be out in force in schools across the state – urging students to register and get out and vote."

"Students who will be at least 18 years-old on Election Day can now register to cast their ballots in November," said Secretary Markowitz "We have asked schools across Vermont to participate in this important effort by registering their high school seniors. For the first time Vermont voter registration forms are available on line at www.sec.state.vt.us. This will make voter registration quick and easy for our cyber-savvy generation of students."

To register, students must fill out the voter registration form and then take the "voters oath" before a Vermont notary public. Once a student is registered and has taken the oath, they may vote in Vermont even if they have left the state for college or employment by requesting an absentee ballot.

"High school registration has the potential to increase youth involvement in the democratic process by making voter participation easy," said Secretary Markowitz.

National High School Voter Registration Week is part of a non-profit, non-partisan effort sponsored by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), AARP, America Online, and MCI WorldCom in cooperation with the Close Up Foundation.

NASS is the oldest professional, nonpartisan organization of major public officials in the United States. Founded in 1904, NASS serves as a medium for the exchange of information among the Secretaries and a mechanism to encourage formal and informal cooperation between state governments. Secretary Markowitz is the Chair of the NASS committee on Youth Voter Participation.

 

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