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

This bill would create a short-term pilot program to help high schools give 12th graders clear information on how to register to vote. The Election Assistance Commission would provide funding to local school districts to run these efforts, such as sharing voter registration steps before graduation. Schools must work with their state and local election officials to make sure the information is correct and useful .

To get funds, a school district must apply, explain its plan and costs, and meet any other requirements the Commission sets. After using the money, the district must send a report within 90 days on what it did and how well it worked. The Commission then reports the results of the pilot to Congress. Funding is authorized as needed to carry out the program, which is set for fiscal year 2025.

Key points:

• Who is affected: 12th grade students and local school districts, working with election officials.
• What changes: Federal funds support school-based efforts to share voter registration information before graduation; schools must report results.
• When: The pilot provides funds during fiscal year 2025.