Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray says he's taking steps to identify and address the causes of that "abysmal" voter turnout rate among the 18-24 age demographic.

"In having this round-table [discussion] and trying to understand the underlying reasons as to the cause of the decline in voter turnout among our youth, the topic turned toward civics," says Murray.  "Civics education, specifically."

Murray says only 10 percent of those between 18 and 24 years old cast ballots in the 2014 election.

"There are those who believe -- particularly in the Department of Education -- that a lack of a rigorous civics education nowadays has contributed [to the low voter turnout], at least in some part," says Murray.

Murray has launched an initiative aimed to ultimately increase voter turnout across all demographics of Wyoming voters.

"We are probably on step two of what I anticipate will be a six- or seven-step process," says Murray.  "We're beginning with a round table.  The next step will be an actual scientific survey that we reach out to a sample population in that age demographic -- 18 to 24 -- with scientific and accurate feedback that we can rely upon in gathering data."

Murray says the survey will be complete in February or early March.  He then intends to take the matter to a statewide summit with Wyoming's youth.

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