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119-s-5481119th CongressWALLET

Youth Voting Rights Act

Sponsored By: Senator Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

Introduced

Summary

Expand youth access to voting. This bill would create new tools to help young people register and vote by adding pre-registration at age 16, on-campus polling, student IDs as acceptable voter ID, and private enforcement for age-based denials.

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  • Students and young people: Makes it easier for 16-year-olds to pre-register so they are registered on their 18th birthday. It treats student ID cards as valid voter ID and clarifies that age-based denials of mail voting violate the 26th Amendment.
  • Colleges and campuses: Requires public college offices that assist students to act as voter registration agencies and asks states to provide polling places on every public campus unless a waiver is granted. For private campuses, states must request permission and offer alternatives like shuttles, on-campus ballot drop boxes, or mobile early voting.
  • States and election officials: Requires age-disaggregated reporting to the Election Assistance Commission and the Government Accountability Office on registrations, absentee ballots, and provisional ballots. Creates a Youth Engagement Grant program and a Youth Engagement Fund and authorizes $26.0 million for FY2027 to support state projects.

*Authorizes $26.0 million for FY2027 for the Youth Engagement Fund and creates a new federal grant stream with funds available for obligation for 10 years.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

On-campus voting and student ID

If enacted, States would have to provide a polling place for federal elections on every public college campus unless the Attorney General grants a waiver. Private campuses could host polling places if they agree in writing. If a private campus does not give permission, the State would have to provide alternatives like free shuttles, on-campus absentee ballot drop boxes, or on-campus early voting or mobile units. The bill would also require jurisdictions that ask for ID to accept student ID cards from institutions of higher education. The Attorney General would issue guidance within 180 days and the Justice Department could enforce campus polling rules.

Pre-registration and campus registration help

This bill would let States accept applications to pre-register for federal elections starting at age 16. If you apply before 18 and will be eligible by a coming federal election, the State would make sure you are registered on or after your 18th birthday. The bill would also make offices that help students at covered public colleges do official voter-registration work under federal rules. The pre-registration rules would take effect 90 days after enactment.

New legal protections for young voters

This bill would expand legal protections and remedies for age and residency voting issues in federal elections. It would let people age 18 or older sue if they are denied or abridged the right to vote on account of age, and it would let people sue over residency-based restrictions in any federal election. It would also clarify that age-based limits on mail voting for eligible voters can violate voting protections and state that such limits conflict with the 26th Amendment. Prevailing plaintiffs could recover reasonable attorneys’ and expert fees.

Grants to boost youth civic engagement

The bill would create a Youth Engagement Grant Program run by the Election Assistance Commission to give States money to boost youth voting and civic learning. State grant plans would cover pre-registration promotion, civic education in secondary schools, support for campus and school registration, paid fellowships with election officials, and reducing disparities for protected classes. Grants would run for two years and grantees would report results six months after the grant ends. The bill would authorize $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and a defined follow-on authorization formula; appropriated funds would be available for obligation for 10 years.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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