Today Secretary of State Alex Padilla visited Notre Dame High School and spoke to students about the importance of voting. Secretary of State Padilla has visited more than 80 high schools across "the four corners of the state" in recent weeks. Invited by Malyna Trujillo '23, a leader of Notre Dame's League of Young Women Voters club, his visit to Notre Dame was the first to an all-girls school.

Secretary Padilla shared his story of growing up in the San Fernando valley, the middle child of three born to immigrant parents whose mother cleaned houses and father worked as a short order cook. After earning a degree in mechanical engineering from MIT, Padilla returned to his hometown at a time when the country was facing a recession and engineering jobs were hard to find and hold onto. During the same time, Proposition 187 was on the California ballot, a measure that would deny public services to individuals and their children who were not able to show proof of US citizenship. The proposition passed but was argued in the courts as unconstitutional and never put into effect. Although he had grown up not wanting to have anything to do with politics, Padilla was spurred to get involved first by registering and voting and, ultimately, by running for his first political office, city council. He was 25.

His message to students was two-fold. First, pre-register and register to vote and then vote in each and every election. Second, make sure your family completes the census forms being sent to families on March 12. As Padilla explained to students, funding for many programs including housing, education and healthcare are all based on population. 

Several news agencies were on campus to cover the event and interviewed students about their views on the importance of registering to vote and casting their ballot in the upcoming elections. Representatives from the County Registrar of Voters were also on hand to help students pre-register (at 16 or 17) or register to vote.

Secretary Padilla had some final words for the young women of Notre Dame. "I'm speaking as a son, as a brother, and as a father raising three 'gentlemen.' As young women, have respect for yourselves and for each other and demand respect from everybody. Don't settle for anything less."

Register to vote today! It's easy to do online at www.registertovote.ca.gov