Preventing Violence Against Female Inmates Act of 2025
In Committee
Introduced:Oct 8, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Tom Cotton
Senator
Republican
AR
Cosponsors
10
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Summary
The Youth Voting Rights Act aims to make it easier for young people to vote in federal elections. It would allow 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote, require colleges to have polling places, and prohibit requiring students to have a certain length of residency to vote. The bill also gives the federal government more power to enforce the 26th Amendment, which bans age discrimination in voting.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
The Youth Voting Rights Act aims to make it easier for young people to vote in federal elections. It would allow 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote, require colleges to have polling places, and prohibit requiring students to have a certain length of residency to vote. The bill also gives the federal government more power to enforce the 26th Amendment, which bans age discrimination in voting.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Youth Voting Rights Act</strong></p> <p>This bill expands voting access for youth.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill establishes a private right of action to enforce the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, which prohibits denying or abridging the right to vote based on age. Further, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice to enforce the Twenty-Sixth Amendment against age-based restrictions for voting by mail.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill directs each state to</p> <ul> <li>designate as voter registration agencies all offices within public institutions of higher education (IHEs) that provide assistance to students, </li> <li>implement a preregistration process to allow minors who are 16 years or older to register to vote in federal elections that take place when or after the preregistered individual turns age 18, and </li> <li>ensure the availability of polling places on campuses of IHEs (with the availability of waivers). </li></ul> <p>The bill prohibits durational residency requirements for voting in all federal elections. Currently, this prohibition applies only to voting for the offices of President and Vice President. </p> <p>States and local jurisdictions with voter identification requirements must treat IHE-issued student identification cards as voter identification.</p> <p>The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must make grants to states to increase the involvement of individuals under age 18 in public election activities. </p> <p>The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on trends related to voter registration, absentee voting, and provisional voting. The EAC must also collect and make publicly available certain data from states.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Allows 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote so they can vote when they turn 18
Requires colleges to have polling places on campus to make it easier for students to vote
Prohibits states from requiring students to live in the state for a certain length of time before voting in federal elections
Gives the federal government more authority to enforce the 26th Amendment banning age discrimination in voting
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
If this bill becomes law, it would make it significantly easier for young people, especially college students, to register and vote in federal elections. This could lead to higher youth voter turnout, giving young Americans more influence over who represents them in Congress and the White House.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
2985, 119th Congress (2025). "Preventing Violence Against Female Inmates Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-2985
