Secretary of State Bruce McPherson Marks His One-Year Anniversary as Secretary of State and Launches April “Voter Education and Participation Month” SACRAMENTO, CA - Today Secretary of State Bruce McPherson commemorated the one-year anniversary of being sworn in as Secretary of State, by announcing that he and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have declared the month of April “Voter Education and Participation Month” for California. Joining Secretary McPherson at his announcement were partners of Voter Education and Participation Month, which include: Steve Weir, representing California Association of Clerks and Elections Officials; Dawn Abrahamson, President of the City Clerks Association of California; Jennifer Reimer, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the California State Student Association; and Rick Pratt, Associate Director of the California State School Boards Association. With these partners, the Secretary unveiled a number of voter education programs aimed at educating voters about new changes at polling places in 2006, as well as encouraging all eligible Californians to exercise their right to vote. “I am pleased to announce a month long, statewide effort to educate voters about new federal and state laws affecting voters in 2006, and to encourage all eligible Californians to register to vote,” said Secretary McPherson. “It is my hope for every eligible Californian to exercise their precious right to vote, and to be fully educated before heading to the polls on Election Day in June and November.” Activities for Voter Education and Participation Month will include: a statewide, coordinated campaign to educate voters about how new federal and state election laws will impact them; outreach to local schools throughout the state in partnership with the California State School Boards Association and California State Student Association; introduction of a new, user-friendly overseas military voting ballot for 2006; partnership with the elections officials and members of the disabled community to ensure that they have access to polling places and new voting machines; a voter registration table in front of the Secretary of State’s Office every Monday during the month of April; and a vigorous voter registration effort throughout the state of California. Secretary McPherson also highlighted key accomplishments during his first year in office, including convincing the federal government to release over $169 million in federal funds for the State of California, the establishment of a statewide voter registration database, the enforcement of the strictest standards in the nation for voting systems, and visits with Registrars of Voters in all 58 California counties - a milestone that has not been achieve in nearly 30 years, since 1977. For more information about Voter Education and Participation Month activities, visit the Secretary of State’s website at: <http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/voter_ed.htm>