Simply put, we need to fully inform Californians about the October 10 registration deadline, and we need to make it as easy and convenient as possible to register for the November 7 presidential general election. To boost public awareness of the registration deadline, I have designated the week of October 2 - October 10 as Voter Registration Week in California. The goal is to place forms to register to vote in as many places a possible during that week. There are too many real-life examples where one vote has made the difference between winning and losing, between enacting a law or bond measure and rejecting it. There's no ready-made solution to increasing voter turnout.
Motivation is a highly personal factor, which is largely beyond the government's control.
But we can take, and have taken, steps to remove the procedural obstacles and inconvenient hurdles to registering and voting. In California, a citizen can register by mail and vote by mail. Any registered voter may apply for an absentee ballot without having to offer any excuse for using this convenient voting option. The aggressive registration outreach programs conducted by my office and county election officials in conjunction with numerous private businesses and organizations have made registration as convenient as picking up a half-gallon of milk on your way home from work. It couldn't be easier, while still being within the limits necessary to ensure against fraud.