States would offer early voter registration and campus voting options

States would offer advance voter registration, and public college offices that help students would serve as voter registration offices. Advance registration would cover state residents seeking to vote in federal elections. Teens would need to meet voting requirements other than age. Advance registration would take effect when the 90-day period following enactment ends and cover elections held on or after the person's 18th birthday.

States would provide campus polling places on federal election days. The requirement would cover state public college campuses and other colleges that agree, across the states and Washington, D.C. Other colleges would need to give written permission; otherwise, states would provide another way for young adults on those campuses to vote. The U.S. Attorney General could waive the requirement for an unsuitable public campus if the state requires another way for young adults there to vote.

Election officials would accept qualifying college IDs, and voting protections would cover age-based limits on voting by mail. The ID rule would apply wherever state or local officials require voter identification. A college ID would need the minimum identifying information required for another accepted voter ID. The mail voting protection would cover people old enough to vote.

Adults harmed by age-based voting restrictions could sue in federal court. People age 18 or older could sue over harm from restricting a U.S. citizen's vote because of age. The voting rule would need to deny fair treatment or equal protection under the Constitution and be unnecessary to serve an especially strong state or local government interest. People who win would recover reasonable lawyer fees, expert witness fees, and other case costs.

The Election Assistance Commission would award youth election participation grants if Congress provides money. Grants would cover states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories, and could support youth under 18. States would need to apply with plans and ways to measure results. Plans would include school activities, paid youth fellowships, and efforts to reduce unequal access to elections. Congress would still need to provide money for the grants. Recipients would use each grant over an agreed two-year period.