PRINTER'S NO. 1962
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
353
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, HUGHES, HAYWOOD, FONTANA, STREET,
TARTAGLIONE, BROWNE, DILLON AND MUTH, OCTOBER 11, 2022
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, OCTOBER 11, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of October 2 through 8, 2022, as "Voter
Education Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The Department of Education declares that young
people and youth voters in this Commonwealth will be prepared to
be responsible, involved citizens; and
WHEREAS, Young people play a critical role in our democracy
by helping to choose the people who will lead us and voicing
their opinions on issues that are important to them; and
WHEREAS, With approximately 179,000 voters turning 18 years
of age in Pennsylvania each year, youth voters have a
significant impact on the future of this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Students are encouraged to participate in our
democracy through civics classes and activities and voter
education programs and by encouraging their peers, members of
their families and communities to register to vote and
participate in elections; and
WHEREAS, Increasing civic participation and voter turnout by
young people are critical in bringing resources and funding to
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provide the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient
system of public education to serve the needs of this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Under 25 Pa.C.S. ยง 1327(c)(2), voter registration
materials are required to be made available to every public
school; and
WHEREAS, To comply with the National Voter Registration Act,
Pennsylvania schools are required to provide voter registration
as a part of Individualized Education Programs for students 17
years of age or older to assist in their transition to adult
life; and
WHEREAS, Schools may also comply with this Federal
requirement by providing general school-wide registration
programs offering voter registration opportunities, registration
forms and assistance to all students approaching voting age; and
WHEREAS, The Department of State presents the Governor's
Civic Engagement Award to a school that registers at least 65%
of eligible student voters for the Silver Award and 85% for the
Gold Award; and
WHEREAS, According to Pew Research, only 6% of students
nationally were asked to register to vote in school; and
WHEREAS, It takes a permanent, organized and concerted year-
round commitment in every school to identify, register and
educate eligible students to become informed voters; and
WHEREAS, Research shows that if young voters cast a ballot in
two consecutive elections they are more likely to become
habitual lifetime voters; and
WHEREAS, If young people fail to register or vote in their
first election, they are more likely to disengage for another
decade and will only return to voting in their 30s; and
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WHEREAS, Because of COVID-19, voter registration efforts
aimed at young people have been especially challenging due to
closures of schools and government offices and the cancellation
of public events; and
WHEREAS, The spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories
have led to racist acts of domestic terrorism and attacks on the
Federal Government and on the institution of democracy itself;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of October 2
through 8, 2022, as "Voter Education Week" in Pennsylvania.
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