Before he retires in January, Secretary of State Sam Reed plans to go back to college – many colleges, actually.

Reed is ready to start his annual tour of college campuses statewide, encouraging students to vote and become more engaged in their communities. Reed also will emphasize civility in politics and society.

Beginning April 9, Reed will visit 45 campuses, stretching from Bellingham to Vancouver, and from Aberdeen to Pullman. It will be the largest number of schools he’s visited since beginning the springtime tradition in 2006. Reed toured 40 campuses last year.

“The college civics tour is always fun for me and students, and it’s a great way to help get them more interesting in voting and being involved,” Reed said. “I really look forward to visiting campuses across the state.”

Reed will take part in campus activities and discussions with students to encourage the state’s youngest voters to participate in elections. Among the highlights:

• At 15 campuses, Reed will either host or play in a “Civics Jeopardy” game that tests students’ knowledge of government, history, vocabulary and geography.

• During the April 12 event at Tacoma Community College, students will wear Western clothing and mustache buttons that say “Voting Looks Good on You.”

• Reed will take part in a tree-planting ceremony during his April 17 visit to Wenatchee Valley College’s Omak branch.

• Reed will present awards to students at service recognition events at Washington State University (Pullman) and Northwest Indian College on April 18, and at Central Washington University on May 1.

“With so many key races and issues on this year’s ballot, students need to understand why voting is important, and they need to realize their collective voice is powerful when they exercise it through voting and being involved in their community,” Reed said. “A major reason why I do this tour is to explain to students why their vote makes a difference and tell them simple ways to be more civically engaged.”

Voters ages 18-24 comprise only about 5 percent of the state’s population that voted in the 2010 General Election. Those 65 and over made up 24 percent of the voter turnout in 2010, followed by ages 55-64 (23 percent), ages 45-54 (21 percent), ages 35-44 (15 percent) and ages 25-34 (11 percent).

However, 68 percent of registered voters ages 18-24 voted in the 2008 General Election, compared to just 45 percent in 2000. Reed considers that a very positive sign.

“I’ve been encouraged to see a larger percentage of younger people voting, and I hope this year they will continue that trend,” Reed said. “Younger voters are just as impacted by what their government does as older generations.  I want them to understand that the best way to bring about change is through their ballot.”

The college civics tour visits include:

Monday, April 9: Centralia College 9 a.m.; Clark College 2 p.m.; Washington State University Vancouver 3 p.m.; and The Evergreen State College 6 p.m.

Tuesday, April 10: North Seattle Community College 9 a.m.; Shoreline Community College 10:30 a.m.; Edmonds Community College 12 p.m.; University of Washington Bothell/Cascadia Community College 2 p.m.; Bellevue College 3:30 p.m.; and TESC Tacoma 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 11: UW Seattle 9 a.m.; Renton Technical College 10:30 a.m.; South Seattle Community College 12 p.m.; Seattle Pacific University 1:30 p.m.; and Seattle University 3 p.m.

Thursday, April 12: Tacoma Community College 9 a.m.; Bates Technical College 10:30 a.m.; Clover Park Technical College 12 p.m.; Pierce College (Steilacoom) 1:30 p.m.; and Pacific Lutheran University 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 17: Olympic College 10 a.m.; Wenatchee Valley College Omak 12 p.m.; Eastern Washington University 3 p.m.; Gonzaga University 5 p.m.; and Whitworth College 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 18: Spokane Falls Community College 8:30 a.m.; Spokane Community College 10:30 a.m.; WSU Pullman 12:30 p.m.; Northwest Indian College 4:30 p.m.; and Western Washington University 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 19: Bellingham Technical College 8 a.m.; Whatcom Community College 9:30 a.m.; Pierce College (Puyallup) 11:30 a.m.; Green River Community College 2 p.m.; and UW Tacoma 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 26: WSU Tri-Cities 9:10 a.m.; Columbia Basin College 10:10 a.m.; Walla Walla Community College 2 p.m.; Whitman College 3:30 p.m.; and Walla Walla University 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 1: Central Washington University 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 2: Yakima Valley Community College 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, May 3: South Puget Sound Community College 10 a.m.

Tuesday, May 15: Grays Harbor College 11:30 a.m.