A Democratic bill with 6 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the High School Voter Empowerment Act of 2026. It requires states to make all public high schools into voter registration agencies. Public high schools must hold a voter registration drive at least once every school year for students who meet certain age and class requirements. The bill directs the Secretary of Education to make grant payments to reimburse public high schools for the reasonable costs of running these voter registration drives. State election officials may also provide voting machines and related equipment to schools for student council or similar elections. The bill takes effect ninety days after its enactment.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets high school students to facilitate their registration and engagement in the democratic process.
- Scored +8
Would students be better off under this?
The bill directly empowers students by providing them with easier access to voter registration and election participation.
- Scored +7
Does this protect the right to vote?
The bill expands voter registration opportunities for high school students to increase political engagement.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reimbursement for Schools: Under Section 3(b), the Secretary of Education will make payments to reimburse public high schools for the reasonable costs they incur while running voter registration drives, which benefits schools by covering their expenses.
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Voting Machine Access for Students: Under Section 3(a) (adding Section 7(e)(2) to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993), appropriate State election officials may provide public high schools with voting machines and related equipment for student council or similar elections upon request, which gives students hands-on experience using official voting equipment.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
Based on the text provided in the bill, there are no specific negative impacts or burdens identified for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — The bill directly empowers students by providing them with easier access to voter registration and election participation. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets high school students to facilitate their registration and engagement in the democratic process.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make casting a ballot easier in practice? — It facilitates voter registration through public high schools and allows for easier access to voting equipment. Does this protect the right to vote? — The bill expands voter registration opportunities for high school students to increase political engagement.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make elections run better? — The bill aims to increase voter participation and streamline registration through educational institutions. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates state actions and directs the Secretary of Education to manage a federal grant program.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill provides grants to public high schools to reimburse costs related to voter registration drives.
- 8/31/2026
- Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
Ed CaseDemocrat · Hawaii
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Shomari FiguresDemocrat · Alabama
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan