Youth Voting Rights Act

The Youth Voting Rights Act is a comprehensive package aimed at expanding and safeguarding voting access for younger Americans, particularly students. It strengthens legal mechanisms to challenge age-based voting restrictions, adds pre-registration for minors (starting at age 16) for federal elections, requires on-campus polling options (with waivers and alternatives where campuses don’t host polls), and broadens access by treating public colleges as voter registration agencies under the National Voter Registration Act. It also authorizes funding for states to promote youth involvement in election activities and includes measures on voter ID, absentee voting, residency considerations, and data collection to monitor youth participation and barriers. The overall goal is to normalize voting for youth early, reduce logistical and procedural hurdles, and increase youth turnout and engagement.