Secretary of the State encourages seventeen-year-old voters to register to vote in the August 10th 2010 Connecticut Primary Elections.

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz visited Torrington to urge seventeen-year-old voters who will turn 18 by the general election to register to vote so they can cast ballots in the August 10th, 2010 Connecticut Primaries. Voters who are 17, but will be 18 by the general election, will be eligible to vote in this year’s statewide primaries as the result of a Constitutional amendment passed in 2008.

“I am very proud of the seventeen-year-old voting amendment. This is the first year seventeen-year-old voters will be eligible to participate in a statewide primary,” said Secretary Bysiewicz, Connecticut’s Chief Elections Official. “I worked very hard to have this amendment adopted and I am optimistic that it will expand the number of young voters interested in the democratic process. In 2008, more than 157,000 citizens between the ages of 18-29 registered to voter. They accounted for the largest group of new voters. I am encouraged by past participation of young voters and I am hopeful the new amendment will continue to drive the overall voter turnout in Connecticut.”

Article XXXI to the Connecticut Constitution, approved overwhelmingly by voters on November 4, 2008 states, “Any citizen who has not yet attained the age of eighteen years but who will have attained the age of eighteen years on or before the day of a regular election, who is otherwise qualified to be an elector and who has applied for admission as an elector in such manner as may be prescribed by law, may vote in any primary election…”

As part of her Affiliate and Participate public awareness campaign, Secretary Bysiewicz will be continuing to reach out to seventeen-year-old voters as well as unaffiliated voters through interviews, radio and television Public Service Announcements, and newspaper Op-Eds to enroll in either the Democratic or Republican parties so they can cast ballots on August 10, 2010.

“I am determined to spread the message to new voters to participate in the 2010 Connecticut Primaries,” said Secretary Bysiewicz. “Encouraging young people to register and vote will foster discussions about politics and policy among families. The earlier someone learns a habit, the more likely it will persist throughout his or her life. Today, with the oil spill in the gulf coast, the war in Afghanistan, and our own state budget crisis, there is no better time to engage the youth of the new generation.”

Secretary Bysiewicz is reminding new voters that in order to be eligible to cast a ballot in the August 10th, 2010 Connecticut Primary Elections, they have until Monday, August 9th at 12:00 PM to register in person with the Democrats or Republicans. Registration forms sent by mail must be postmarked no later than Thursday, August 5th. Unaffiliated voters face those same deadlines if they wish to enroll with a major party in order to vote in the primaries.

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