Original Students Voicing Opinions in Today’s Elections (VOTE) Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 126
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Last Updated
- 2025-02-03T15:30:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Original Students Voicing Opinions in Today's Elections (VOTE) Act aims to increase awareness of voter registration among high school seniors by funding educational initiatives. It establishes a one-year pilot program through the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to support local school districts in delivering this information to 12th-grade students before they graduate.
Key Provisions
- Pilot Program Structure: The EAC must implement a pilot program in fiscal year 2025, providing funds to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs, such as school districts) for initiatives focused on voter registration information for elections to public office.
- Eligibility Requirements: LEAs apply to the EAC with a description of planned initiatives, a cost estimate, and any additional details or assurances requested by the EAC.
- Consultation Mandate: Funded LEAs must work with state and local election officials (those who run elections in their area) when designing the initiatives.
- Definitions: "Local educational agency" and "secondary school" are defined using terms from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referring to public school districts and high schools.
- Reporting Requirements:
- LEAs must submit a report to the EAC within 90 days of receiving funds, detailing the initiatives and evaluating their effectiveness.
- The EAC must then report to Congress within 60 days of receiving the final LEA report, summarizing the overall pilot program.
- Funding: Authorizes Congress to appropriate whatever funds are needed to implement the Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new pilot program, creating fresh federal funding and reporting obligations for the EAC and LEAs. It does not amend existing laws directly but builds on the EAC's role in election administration and the definitions from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. No prior mandates for such school-based voter education pilots exist in federal law.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The EAC gains new administrative duties, including application reviews, fund distribution, and congressional reporting, which could strain resources without specified funding levels. State and local election officials may see increased coordination with schools.
- On Citizens: High school seniors (typically 17-18 years old) in participating districts could gain easier access to voter registration info, potentially boosting youth turnout in elections. Broader civic education might encourage lifelong voting habits.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic U.S. elections.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Election Assistance Commission (EAC): Oversees the program, distributes funds, and reports to Congress.
- Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and Secondary Schools: Eligible for funding to develop and implement voter education initiatives.
- 12th-Grade Students: Primary beneficiaries, receiving information on how to register to vote.
- State and Local Election Officials: Involved in consulting on initiative design to ensure accuracy.
- Congress: Authorizes funding and receives evaluation reports to assess the program's success.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill aligns with federal authority under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 4), which allows Congress to regulate federal elections. It promotes nonpartisan voter education without mandating registration, avoiding potential conflicts with state election laws.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; it supports First Amendment rights to free speech and information while respecting states' primary role in elections.
- Political: Could enhance youth political engagement, potentially influencing future voter demographics. As a pilot, it provides data for possible expansion, but its short-term nature limits immediate partisan effects. The bill's introduction by a Texas representative suggests bipartisan interest in civic education, though funding debates may arise in Congress.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-03: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Original Students Voicing Opinions in Today’s Elections (VOTE) Act — issued 2025-01-03 — PDF (3 pages)