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PRESS RELEASE
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 29, 2011 | FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Contact: Jason M. Gant (605) 773-3537 |
National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) appoints Jason Gant as co-Chair of Voter Participation Committee
Secretary of State Jason Gant announced today that he has been chosen as Co-Chair of the Voter Participation Committee of NASS – the National Association of Secretaries of State. NASS President Mark Ritchie, Secretary of State of Minnesota, made the appointment where Secretary Gant will jointly lead the committee with Democrat Secretary of State Denise Merrill of Connecticut.
Secretary Gant stated “This is a great opportunity to bring South Dakota’s history of voter participation, which are already among the highest in the nation, to other states and to seek out any opportunities to raise voter participation levels in South Dakota. As we move forward to the presidential elections in 2012, I look forward to working with Secretary Merrill as we strive to increase voter participation on a national basis. “
“As a panel, the Voter Participation Committee is taking the lead on issues such as examining the challenges to vote that same day voter registration can create, and monitoring photo ID requirements on a national basis. I’m pleased that by participating, South Dakota has a seat at the table to ensure fair and free elections on a nationwide basis,” Gant said.
According to the NASS Website, The Voter Participation Committee is devoted to identifying state strategies for increasing and enhancing voter participation levels. NASS outreach programs include the New Millennium Young Voters Project and the Voternetwork, as well as a nonpartisan website devoted to voter engagement: www.CanIVote.org. The Voter Participation Committee is comprised of 19 Secretaries of State from across the nation.
Secretary Gant’s term as co-chair of the Voter Participation Committee will run through the 2011 NASS Summer Conference in West Virginia. As co-chair of the committee, Secretary of State Jason Gant will work with NASS staff to develop the agenda for the committee at the 2011 Summer Conference.
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