# The VOTE Act: Getting High School Seniors Information About Voter Registration

This bill creates a federal funding program to help high schools teach 12th graders how to register to vote. The Election Assistance Commission—a federal agency that oversees election administration—would distribute money to local school districts that want to run voter registration information programs. The goal is straightforward: make sure students know how to register before they graduate and potentially move away or start their adult lives.

Here's how it would work in practice. A school district interested in the program would apply for federal funding by describing what they want to do—whether that's hosting voter registration drives, bringing in election officials to speak, setting up registration tables, or creating educational materials about the voting process. Schools would need to work with their local and state election officials to make sure the information they're providing is accurate and follows all the rules. The program was set up as a pilot, meaning it would run for a limited time (initially in 2021) to test whether this approach actually works before potentially expanding it.

The bill doesn't mandate that schools participate or require them to do anything specific—it just offers funding to those who want to help their students register. Schools would have to report back on what they did and whether it seemed effective, and the Election Assistance Commission would then report to Congress about the overall results. The bill doesn't specify how much money would be available, leaving that to Congress to decide later. Essentially, this is a modest attempt to remove barriers to voting by reaching young people at a moment when they're still in school and have easy access to information and resources.

Students Voicing Opinions in Today’s Elections (VOTE) Act

Green, Al

Students Voicing Opinions in Today's Elections (VOTE) Act This bill directs the Election Assistance Commission to carry out a pilot program providing funds, during FY2021, to local educational agencies (LEAs) for initiatives that provide 12th graders with voter registration information. LEAs must consult with their state and local election officials in developing the initiatives.