Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB126

Introduced
1/9/23  

Caption

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 FY2023, 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.

Impact

The introduction of the VOTE Act represents a proactive approach to increasing voter engagement among young people who are about to reach voting age. By allocating funds to LEAs, the bill aims to bolster educational initiatives that make voter registration more accessible and comprehensible for students. This initiative could potentially lead to higher registration rates among new voters and encourage lifelong participation in the democratic process, fostering a more informed and active citizenry.

Summary

House Bill 126, also known as the Students Voicing Opinions in Today’s Elections (VOTE) Act, is a legislative initiative aimed at promoting civic engagement among high school students. Specifically, the bill directs the Election Assistance Commission to implement a pilot program providing funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) to facilitate the dissemination of voter registration information to 12th-grade students. The goal is to ensure that students are informed about their voting options and the registration process as they prepare to graduate and participate in elections.

Contention

While the bill moves toward empowering students to engage in the electoral process, there may be concerns regarding the implementation of such programs at the local level. LEAs will need to ensure that they consult adequately with state and local election officials when developing their initiatives, which might raise questions about the adequacy of resources and the effectiveness of outreach efforts. Furthermore, discussions could arise around the political neutrality of the information provided, ensuring that the initiative serves its intended purpose of informing rather than influencing the voting preferences of students.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB126

Original Students Voicing Opinions in Today's Elections (VOTE) ActThis bill directs the Election Assistance Commission to carry out a pilot program providing funds, during FY2025, 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.

US HB1050

Mississippi Students Voicing Opinions in Today's Elections (VOTE) Act; create.

US HB156

Restoring Faith in Elections Act This bill establishes certain standards for voting, including voting by mail, in federal elections. It also establishes certain requirements for voter registration and maintenance of official lists of eligible voters. First, the bill establishes certain requirements for voting by mail in federal elections, including by requiring mail-in ballots to be received by the time the polls close on election day. Additionally, the bill makes it unlawful to possess or return a mail-in ballot completed by another person (commonly referred to as ballot harvesting), with exceptions. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to one year, or both. Further, the bill establishes certain requirements for reporting results of federal elections, including by requiring states to count all eligible ballots within 24 hours after the election. Next, the bill provides for the automatic registration of eligible voters. The Election Assistance Commission must make grants to states to implement these automatic voter registration programs. It also requires states and jurisdictions to use standards that apply equally to all methods of voting used in federal elections, including standards related to signature verification. Finally, the bill establishes the National Deconfliction Voting Database and Clearinghouse to serve as a database and clearinghouse for voter registration records and lists of eligible voters. Additionally, each state must certify that it has removed ineligible voters from the official list of eligible voters prior to the federal election.

US HB157

Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Elections Act or the CLEAN Elections Act This bill establishes requirements for nonpartisan redistricting and open primary elections. States must (1) conduct congressional redistricting using a plan developed by a nonpartisan independent redistricting commission, beginning with the 2020 census; and (2) hold open primaries for federal elections. A state may not use federal funds provided for election administration purposes unless it certifies to the Election Assistance Commission that it (1) conducts redistricting for its state legislative districts using a plan developed by a nonpartisan independent redistricting commission, and (2) holds open primaries for elections for state and local office.

US HB4494

Ensuring Faith in Our Elections Act Promoting Free and Fair Elections Act Solving an Overlooked Loophole in Votes for Executives (SOLVE) Act

US HB4477

American Confidence in Elections: District of Columbia Election Integrity and Voter Confidence Act

US HB466

Securing America's Elections Act of 2023 This bill requires voting systems for federal elections to produce paper ballots that the voter may inspect and verify before the vote is cast and counted. The bill also (1) requires the paper ballot to be suitable for manual audits, (2) prescribes approved methods for such audits, and (3) directs the Department of Homeland Security and the Election Assistance Commission to report on the desirability of using open-source software in voting systems.

US HB160

Restoring Faith in Elections ActThis bill establishes certain standards for voting, including voting by mail, in federal elections. It also establishes certain requirements for voter registration and maintenance of official lists of eligible voters.First, the bill establishes certain requirements for voting by mail in federal elections, including by requiring mail-in ballots to be received by the time the polls close on election day.Additionally, the bill makes it unlawful to possess or return a mail-in ballot completed by another person (commonly referred to as ballot harvesting), with exceptions. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to one year, or both.Further, the bill establishes certain requirements for reporting results of federal elections, including by requiring states to count all eligible ballots within 24 hours after the election.Next, the bill provides for the automatic registration of eligible voters. The Election Assistance Commission must make grants to states to implement these automatic voter registration programs.It also requires states and jurisdictions to use standards that apply equally to all methods of voting used in federal elections, including standards related to signature verification.Finally, the bill establishes the National Deconfliction Voting Database and Clearinghouse to serve as a database and clearinghouse for voter registration records and lists of eligible voters. Additionally, each state must certify that it has removed ineligible voters from the official list of eligible voters prior to the federal election.

US AB331

Elections: duties of election officials: voter information guides.

US AB1392

Elections: voter registration information: elected officials and candidates.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.