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AP16:053

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 30, 2016

CONTACT:

Sam Mahood (916) 653-6575

California Youth Fuel Surge in Online Voter Registration

SACRAMENTO – Over 560,000 Californians have used the Secretary of State’s Online Voter Registration site to register to vote or update their registration information in the first three months of 2016. This surge of registrations has been fueled by Californians ages 17-25, who accounted for over 36% of online registrations during this period. These numbers do not include traditional paper registrations. The next complete statewide report on registration will reflect statistics as of April 8, 2016, and will include registrations obtained both online and on paper.

“Online voter registration is empowering a new generation of Californians,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. “We are witnessing a wave of young Californians engaging in the democratic process. The timing says everything—they want to vote.”

562,238 Californians used the Online Voter Registration website to register or update registration information from January 1, 2016 to March 29, 2016. 204,785 of these online voter registrations were by 17-25 year olds.

“All eyes will be on California on June 7. It is vital that California voters cast a ballot to shape the future of our state and nation. The stakes could not be higher during this election season, and I encourage every eligible citizen to vote in the June 7 Presidential Primary Election,” Padilla added.

Key data:

In January 2016, there were 92,278 completed new voter registrations or registration updates through the voter registration website. 36% of these registrations were by voters ages 17-25.

In February 2016, there were 146,951 completed new voter registrations or registration updates through the voter registration website. 38% of these registrations were by voters ages 17-25.

In March 2016, there have been 323,009 completed new voter registrations or registration updates through the voter registration website. Nearly 36% of these registrations have been by voters ages 17-25.

To put this in context, in all of 2014 there were only 425,220 completed registrations or updated registrations through the voter registration website.

"This surge in online voter registration suggests that elections officials throughout our state should be preparing for a surge in turnout during the June 7 Presidential Primary Election," Padilla said.

“Online voter registration is quick, easy, smartphone friendly and available in 10 languages at RegisterToVote.ca.gov. If you’ve already registered, reach out to eligible friends and family about the importance of registering and voting in this year’s election,” Padilla said.

Secretary of State Padilla has made outreach to new voters a priority of his administration—addressing citizenship naturalization ceremonies, speaking to high school students, and discussing best practices for voter registration drives with college students across California.

17 year old citizens, who will be 18 or older by the next election, can register to vote.

California Online Voter Registration by Age Group

(March 1, 2015 – March 29, 2016)

Total 17-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 66 + March 2015 14,613 4,384 3,836 2,287 1,850 1,329 927 April 2015 17,176 6,289 4,293 2,352 1,786 1,410 1,046 May 2015 16,504 6,212 4,053 2,271 1,740 1,284 944 June 2015 18,021 6,584 4,694 2,528 1,793 1,462 960 July 2015 25,368 9,921 6,793 3,347 2,392 1,805 1,110 August 2015 47,740 21,513 12,318 5,724 3,776 2,659 1,750 September 2015 56,048 24,789 14,461 6,855 4,534 3,287 2,122 October 2015 67,344 26,138 19,634 8,531 5,736 4,375 2,930 November 2015 43,557 16,251 11,968 5,671 4,299 3,292 2,076 December 2015 42,768 15,062 11,900 5,774 4,498 3,392 2,142 January 2016 92,278 33,350 26,390 12,309 9,005 6,876 4,348 February 2016 146,951 56,139 40,304 19,179 13,691 10,623 7,015 March 2016 323,009 115,296 93,178 43,278 30,555 24,317 16,390 Totals 911,377 341,928 253,822 120,106 85,655 66,111 43,760 37.52% 27.85% 13.18% 9.40% 7.25% 4.80%

Total CA Online Voter Registration by Month (March 2015 – March 2016)

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