lives"The next bill before me today is Introductory Number 261-A sponsored by Council Members Gioia, Moskowitz, Addabbo, Barron, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, Foster, Gentile, Gerson, Gonzalez, Jackson, Jennings, Koppell, Liu, Lopez, Monserrate, Reyna, Rivera, Sanders, Seabrook, Stewart, Vann, Weprin, Boyland, Gennaro, James, Katz, McMahon, Quinn, Recchia, Reed, Serrano, Martinez, Palma and Yassky.  Int. 261-A requires the Department of Education to provide voter registration forms to all graduating high school students, at the same time and in the same manner as such students receive their diplomas.  Intro. 261-A is consistent with the practices already undertaken by the Department.

"Civic participation is the basic tenet of democracy.  Exercising the right to vote is the most profound way to make our collective voice heard in representative government.  The number of registered voters among eligible citizens is, however, only a fraction of what it should be, and the numbers are troublingly low among our younger citizens.  Every vote counts, and it is our hope that more people will exercise this right.  The Department of Education has made great efforts to address this problem and increase voter participation.  Collectively, though, we should do more to encourage everyone to participate in the process, and this legislation helps in that effort."