WHEREAS, National Voter Registration Day began in 2012; and
WHEREAS, The need for an established National Voter Registration Day became apparent after confusion arose with regard to various voter registration deadlines; and
WHEREAS, It was discovered that a significant number of people who would have registered to vote in the 2008 Presidential Election were not aware of the deadline to register to be eligible to vote in this historic election; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia City Commissioners Office, comprised of Chairman Anthony Clark, Vice Chairman Al Schmidt and Commissioner Lisa Deeley, believe it is their responsibility to get as many residents of the City as possible registered for the upcoming November election; and
WHEREAS, The City Commissioners have worked to create a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. The goal of this collaboration is to get more young people registered to vote and out to the polls on Election Day; and
WHEREAS, A study of youth voter turnout showed that only twenty percent of eighteen to twenty nine year olds cast ballots in the 2014 elections. That was the lowest turnout rate ever recorded in an election for this demographic; and
WHEREAS,
The registration rate among eligible voters is seventy one percent, but when looking at eligible voters ages eighteen through twenty four, that number falls to just fifty nine percent; and
WHEREAS, Reports on voter turnout show that when registered, young people will go to the polls to vote. For example, in 2008, eighty three percent of registered eighteen to twenty four year olds voted in that election; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize Tuesday, September 27, 2016 as National Voter Registration Day.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to the City Commissioners of Philadelphia as an acknowledgement of this action.
End