California Secretary of State Debra Bowen visited De Anza College on Oct. 3 to speak about the importance of voting and getting involved in the upcomng election.
Bowen spoke to a packed conference room of students, faculty, and staff.
She wove nostalgic tales of her career in politics with results that ripple through to the present.  
Bowen elaborated further about online voter registration during an audience open forum.
She suggested letting the  Department of Motor Vehicles preregister eligible youth when one is 15 or 16 years old, and registering  one automatically if they are 18 years old.
Bowen also addressed concerns of the audience with regards to voting.
During the question and answer opportunity, De Anza student Joshua Gregerson wanted to know if there were measures in place to verify the eligibility of voters based on immigration status.
“With the governor just signing into law the other day that illegal immigrants under 30 can get driver’s licenses, is there anything in place to keep them from voting?” Gregerson asked.
“I think we are going to have to have a system that at least internally  has a differentiation between US citizens and non-US citizens,” replied Secretary Bowen. “I need to know that before I register somebody using their DMV signature.”
After the conference, Bowen  further elaborated on why it is critical for eligible voters to be registered and how everyone can be engaged in this election and spoke about the importance of getting indvidual voices heard.
“I think there’s so many issues before us, and I think that this country is only as strong as the voices that are heard,” she said. “The only way you can be sure your voice is heard is to vote!”