California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson stressed the importance of registering young voters at a training session Friday.

McPherson spoke to a group of students from several California college campuses at the session held by the California State Student Association and Associated Students Inc. in the University Union Ballroom.

“It just ticks me off that they don’t take the time (to vote),” McPherson said about voters ages 18 to 24. He said that only half of that age group in California is registered, and only half of the registered ones vote.

McPherson said he was not speaking to promote an agenda or take a side on any of the propositions in the upcoming elections to be held on Nov. 8, but just wanted to get students to vote.

“They’ll listen to you, their peers, more than they will to me,” McPherson said.

The California State Student Association has three goals with this program, said Laura Kerr, director of government relations for the CSSA. The first goal is to register people to vote. The second is nonpartisan voter education so that voters will be informed at the polls. The third goal is to “get the vote out” on election day.

Kerr said students from at least six Northern California campuses were present at the event and was glad that McPherson came to speak.

“He really was a great friend to students when he was on the Senate Education Committee and continues this relationship now that he is secretary of state,” Kerr said.

After the students complete the training, they will go back to their campuses and register people to vote as well as giving them non-partisan education on the various ballot measures.

McPherson said that he supports the idea of setting up polling places on campuses.

McPherson also addressed questions regarding same-day voter registration. This would mean being able to register at the polling places and vote on the same day.

Currently, to be able to vote in the Nov. 8 special elections, voters must register by Oct. 24.

McPherson said that he would like to eventually see same-day registration and said that California is moving in that direction.

Brandon Darnell can be reached at [email protected]