Youth Voting Rights Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Introduced
Summary
Expands and enforces youth voting rights. This bill would make it easier for teenagers to register and challenge age-based voting barriers by creating a federal pre‑registration system starting at age 16 and new private lawsuits to stop age-based restrictions.
Show full summary
- Students and young people: Would let residents apply to register for federal elections beginning at age 16 and require that applicants under 18 who will be eligible at 18 are registered for elections after their 18th birthday. Student ID cards that meet minimum information rules would count as voter ID for college students.
- Campuses and colleges: Would treat offices at public institutions of higher education that help students as voter registration agencies under the National Voter Registration Act. States would have to provide on‑campus polling at State public campuses and offer alternatives for other campuses such as shuttles, on‑campus drop boxes, early voting, or mobile units.
- States, enforcement, and data: Would add private rights of action allowing people 18 or older to sue over age‑based vote denials and permit fee awards to prevailing plaintiffs. It would require GAO and the Election Assistance Commission to collect and publish age‑disaggregated data and create a mandatory State data submission requirement.
*Would authorize $26.0 million for fiscal year 2026 for a Youth Engagement Fund and create a continuing appropriation, increasing federal spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Pre-register at 16 with campus help
If enacted, you could apply to pre‑register to vote starting at age 16. If you will be 18 by an election, the State would register you for that election. Offices at public colleges that help students would have to offer voter registration services. These changes would start 90 days after enactment. States could choose to let younger teens pre‑register too.
More public data on youth voting
If enacted, GAO would report to Congress within 180 days on registration and mail and provisional voting by age groups. The Election Assistance Commission would collect and publish State data on application and rejection rates, reasons for rejection, and campus polling availability, broken out by age and by race where available. States would have to provide the data for federal elections after enactment.
Polling places and options on campuses
If enacted, States would need a polling place on each public college campus for every federal election unless the Attorney General grants a waiver. Private colleges would need to give written permission. If no on‑campus polling is allowed, States would have to offer alternatives like free shuttles, on‑campus drop boxes, early voting, or mobile units. The Attorney General would issue guidance within 180 days. People could sue if violations are not fixed after required notice.
Stronger protections against age-based voting limits
If enacted, you could not be denied voting by mail just because of your age. People 18 or older could sue in federal court over age-based voting barriers and seek attorney and expert fees if they win. Residency protections would apply to elections for all federal offices, not just president. These protections would take effect when the bill becomes law.
Student IDs count for voter ID
If enacted, your student ID would meet voter ID rules where an ID is required, if it has the same basic information as other accepted IDs. This would apply only in places that have a voter ID rule.
Grants to boost youth civic participation
If enacted, the government would create a Youth Engagement Fund for State grants. Money would support school programs, outreach, and paid youth fellowships that help with elections. Congress would authorize $26 million for fiscal year 2026, with funds available for 10 years. States would use grants over 2 years and report results within 6 months.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Cosponsors
Ansari
AZ • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
AL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
MD • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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