Press Release

Senator Stern to Hold First-Ever Interactive Senate Elections Committee Hearing at Local High School

WHAT:  Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee Informational Hearing 

WHEN:  Friday, March 17, 2017, 1-3 p.m.

WHERE:  Reseda High School, 18230 Kittridge St., Reseda

Community members are invited to attend and participate in the first in a series of official hearings to help shape policies to improve civic engagement and youth voter turnout in California.

College and high school students from Reseda, Simi Valley, CSU Northridge, Pierce College, and other schools and civic groups will come together to hear brief updates on civic engagement efforts from top researchers, organizers and state leaders.  Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions, share stories and provide direct feedback on hot-button policy topics, including:

  • Are 17 year olds ready for the right to vote?
  • How can young Californians use digital tools like social media, apps and open data to shape policies/make their voices heard?
  • What issues does this generation face that state government is not addressing?

While there was great interest in the last election from 18- to 24-year-olds, that did not translate into votes.  Data from the California Civic Engagement Project shows this age group had a turnout 22 percent lower than that of the general population.  Senator Henry Stern, Chair of the Senate Elections Committee and the first Millennial elected to the State Senate, is working with leaders across the state to address this issue.

Students will also be able to comment and participate in the discussion on Facebook and Twitter before and after the hearing itself using the hashtag #YouthVote.

Scheduled to Participate:

  • State Senators Henry Stern and Bob Hertzberg
  • Students and Teachers from Southern California
  • California Civic Engagement Project
  • Generation Citizen
  • California Public Interest Research Group
  • Rock the Vote
  • NextGen Climate Millennial Outreach
  • Foundation for California Community Colleges
  • California Association of Student Councils
  • Mi Familia Vota
  • Institute for Local Government 

Watch the live stream on Youtube here.

For information contact Marie Lakin at Marie.Lakin@sen.ca.gov.