Resolution by Board of Education for Voter Registration and Precinct Inspectors

>Have students that are 18? Help them register to vote! And what about students that are 16 and older? They can be a part of this year's election, too! The Resolution below (and attached) was released on September 9, 2008. School districts throughout Michigan are encouraged to make sure all students 16 and above are aware of how they can be a part of the Presidential Election coming this November.

18 and older - Register to vote BY OCTOBER 4TH!

• Rock the Vote
• Secretary of State Voter Registration Application

16 and older - Help at the precincts! Talk with your local voting precinct or your school administrators about how to help at the elections.

State of Michigan

State Board of Education

RESOLUTION

Encouraging Vote Registration of 18 Year-Olds

and

Students to be Precinct Inspectors

WHEREAS, the right to vote is among the core values and basic liberties that this nation is built upon; and

WHEREAS, the right to vote was not originally guaranteed in the Constitution to women and African Americans and was subsequently won at great personal cost to those groups; and

WHEREAS, the State Board of Education has established the preparation of young people to become responsible citizens as a goal of the Michigan Merit Social Studies curriculum; and

WHEREAS, Michigan has an opportunity this fall to encourage its students to be involved in the responsibilities of citizenship in a pluralistic, democratic society by registering to vote; and

WHEREAS, public service including serving as a precinct inspector is one of these key responsibilities of citizens in a democracy; and

WHEREAS, Michigan's Compiled Laws 168.677 allows for the appointment as precinct inspectors of both registered voters 18 and over and high school students aged 16 and above with permission from their schools; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Michigan State Board of Education encourage local school districts to promote voter registration of students who are 18 years old and/or those who will be age 18 by Election Day, November 4, 2008, to register to vote by the deadline of October 4, 2008; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that the Michigan State Board of Education encourage local school districts to make information available that promotes opportunities for students to become precinct inspectors on Election Day.

Adopted September 9, 2008

Kathleen N. Straus, President

Michael P. Flanagan, Chairman and Superintendent of Public Instruction