,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #iib ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #be1 #bjba,mr4 ,booker 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,brown1 and ,ms4 ,hirono7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to require institutions of higher education that participate in programs under such title to distribute voter registration forms to students enrolled at the institution1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,help ,students ,vote ,act4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that political participation and civic engagement are fundamental to the health of ,american democracy1 and that all citizens should be encouraged to vote1 regardless of party affiliation4 #c4 ,distributing voter registration information ,section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc77 is amended to read as follows3 7#bc7 7,a7 ,the institution will make every reasonable effort to-- 7i7 distribute voter registration applications for elections for ,federal office prescribed pursuant to section #i of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejh71 which may include sharing a direct1 guided link to such application1 to each student enrolled at the institution2 7ii7 provide clear guidance that each student enrolled at the institution should-- 7,i7 register in the ,state in which the student is eligible to vote in the next election if registration is required1 which may include the ability of out of ,state students to vote in the ,state in which they are enrolled and physically in attendance1 in accordance with applicable ,state law2 and 7,,ii7 update the student's existing voter registration if the student's address has changed recently or since the last election in which the student was eligible to vote2 7iii7 periodically share credible1 nonpartisan resources to help students determine where and how they are eligible to vote1 which may include resources from ,state and local election officials on voter registration and voting requirements1 including voter registration deadlines1 residency requirements1 voter identification requirements1 and absentee voting options1 as applicable2 and 7iv7 in distributing voting materials 7as defined in section #bjc7;b77#c7 of the ,voting ,rights ,act of #aife 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajejc7;b77#c77 that are produced by a covered ,state or political subdivision 7as defined in such section71 ensure to the greatest extent practicable that-- 7,i7 such voting materials are provided in accordance with section #bjc of such ,act 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #ajejc72 and 7,,ii7 all materials and information made available electronically under this paragraph-- 7aa7 are accessible to individuals with disabilities2 and 7bb7 conform to the accessibility standards under section #ejh of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d74 7,b7 ,the institution shall be considered in compliance with the requirements of subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 if1 with respect to each student enrolled who is not exclusively enrolled in distance education at the institution1 the institution-- 7,i7 7aa7 distributes voter registration applications to such students not less than twice in a calendar year1 and distributes such voter registration applications not less than #cj days in advance of the deadline for registering to vote within the ,state for the next scheduled ,federal or ,state primary election and not less than #cj days in advance of the deadline for registering to vote within the ,state for the next scheduled ,federal or ,state general or special election2 or 7bb7 electronically transmits a message to such students containing a voter registration application 7or the message contains an ,internet address where such a voter registration application can be accessed or downloaded7 acceptable for use in the ,state in which the institution is located to each such student1 and such electronic message is devoted exclusively to voter registration1 not less than twice in a calendar year1 and transmits such a message not less than #cj days in advance of the deadline for registering to vote within the ,state for the next scheduled ,federal or ,state primary election and not less than #cj days in advance of the deadline for registering to vote within the ,state for the next scheduled ,federal or ,state general or special election2 7,,ii7 during a period that the institution requires or encourages students to remain off-campus due to a national1 ,state1 or local public health or other emergency1 additionally-- 7aa7 requests that the ,state in which the institution is located provide the institution with absentee ballot applications1 as applicable1 or share the official ,state website or online portal through which eligible voters can directly request an absentee ballot2 7bb7 distributes to each such student an absentee ballot application1 requested from the ,state under item 7aa7 and received in accordance with section #cjc7;d7 of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajhc7;d77 or the official ,state website or online portal through which eligible voters can directly request an absentee ballot1 with instructions that the form1 website1 or online portal should be used only by students eligible to vote in the ,state2 7cc7 notifies students of applicable deadlines for requesting and submitting an absentee ballot1 as well as additional options for early and in-person voting1 and voting on ,election ,day1 as applicable2 and 7dd7 shares credible1 nonpartisan resources to help students who are registered in another ,state to apply for absentee ballots in such ,state1 which may include resources from ,state and local election officials2 and 7,,iii7 ensures that an appropriate staff person or office has been designated as a ,campus ,vote ,coordinator to ensure compliance in accordance with this clause at the institution and who shall-- 7aa7 be publicly designated as the ,campus ,vote ,coordinator1 along with the ,coordinator's contact information1 on the institution's website2 and 7bb7 upon request1 provide to students residency requirements for voting1 including the ability of out of ,state students to vote in the ,state in which they are enrolled and physically in attendance1 in accordance with applicable ,state law2 and 7ii7 if1 with respect to each student enrolled exclusively in distance education or correspondence programs1 the institution-- 7,i7 transmits a message devoted exclusively to voter registration referring such students to a centralized voter registration website or platform that provides applicable voter registration application and voting information for all ,states1 provided that such platform is hosted by a government affiliated website2 7,,ii7 transmits such message not less than twice in a calendar year2 and 7,,iii7 maintains information on the institution's website containing credible1 nonpartisan resources to help students determine where and how they are eligible to vote1 or a link to such resources4 7,c7 ,the institution may also include voter registration applications within materials or information distributed to newly enrolled1 or returning1 students at the beginning of a term1 consistent with the requirements of subparagraph 7,b74 7,d7 ,in this paragraph-- 7i7 the term absentee ballot means any ballot cast by any means other than in person and for which the ,state requires an application2 7ii7 the term distance education has the meaning given the term in section #ajc1 except such term shall not include distance education that is provided due to a decision of an institution to require or encourage students of the institution to remain off-campus due to a national1 ,state1 or local public health or other emergency2 7iii7 the term ,federal office has the meaning given the term in section #cja7c7 of the ,federal ,election ,campaign ,act of #aiga 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #cjaja7c772 and 7iv7 the term voter registration application has the meaning of the term mail voter registration form as described in section #i7;b7 of the ,national ,voter ,registration ,act of #aiic 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bjejh7;b774 4 #d4 ,grants authorized ,the ,secretary of ,education shall award grants to institutions of higher education that greatly exceed the minimum requirements under section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc771 including as demonstrated by-- 7#a7 sponsoring large on-campus voter mobilization efforts2 7#b7 engaging the surrounding community in nonpartisan voter registration and get out the vote efforts2 7#c7 creating a website with centralized information about voter registration and election dates2 7#d7 inviting candidates to speak on campus2 and 7#e7 offering rides to the polls to increase voter education1 registration1 and mobilization4 #e4 ,enforcement actions 7a7 ,corrective action 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,education shall submit a written warning to an institution of higher education that violates a requirement of section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc77 that includes a direction to correct the violation not later than #fj days after the date the warning was received4 7#b7 ,actions authorized ,if an institution of higher education does not correct a violation in accordance with a direction from the ,secretary of ,education as described in paragraph 7#a71 the ,attorney ,general of the ,united ,states may authorize the appropriate ,state law enforcement officer or the chief elections official of a ,state to commence a civil action in accordance with subsection 7b74 7b7 ,civil actions 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,state law enforcement officer or chief elections official of a ,state may commence a civil action in accordance with subsection 7a7 in the appropriate district court of the ,united ,states against the institution that engages in a pattern or practice of violating section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc774 7#b7 ,relief ,in a civil action commenced under paragraph 7#a71 the court may-- 7,a7 grant any appropriate equitable or declaratory relief with respect to the violation of section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc772 7,b7 award all other appropriate relief to any person or group aggrieved by the violation2 7,c7 to vindicate the public interest1 assess a civil penalty in an amount not exceeding the amount listed in section #dhg7;c77#c77;,b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;c77#c77;,b77 for any violation2 and 7,d7 take into account the number of days in which the infraction occurred4 7#c7 ,intervention ,upon timely application1 a person aggrieved by a violation of section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc77 with respect to which a civil action is commenced under this subsection may intervene in such action1 and may obtain such appropriate relief as the person could obtain in a civil action under subsection 7c7 with respect to such violation1 along with costs and reasonable attorneys fees4 7c7 ,private right of action 7#a7 ,in general ,any person or group aggrieved by a violation of section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc77 may commence a civil action in any appropriate district court of the ,united ,states against the institution that engages in such violation4 7#b7 ,relief ,in a civil action commenced under paragraph 7#a71 the court may-- 7,a7 grant any appropriate equitable or declaratory relief with respect to the violation of section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc772 7,b7 award any other appropriate relief to the person or group aggrieved by the violation1 including the costs of the action1 such as reasonable attorneys fees2 7,c7 to vindicate the public interest1 assess a civil penalty in an amount not exceeding the amount listed in section #dhg7;c77#c77;,b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;c77#c77;,b77 for any violation2 and 7,d7 take into account the number of days in which the infraction occurred4 7#c7 ,reporting ,not later than #fj days before the date a person or group aggrieved by a violation of section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc77 commences a civil action under paragraph 7#a71 the person or group shall report the violation to the ,department of ,education1 a ,federal or ,state law enforcement agency1 and the institution purported to have committed the violation via an affidavit detailing the alleged violation4 7#d7 ,preservation of remedies ,nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude or limit any remedy otherwise available under other law1 including consequential and punitive damages4 #f4 ,conforming amendments to ,help ,america ,vote ,act ,section #cjc of the ,help ,america ,vote ,act of #bjjb 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #bajhc7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading1 by inserting 2 provision of forms to institutions of higher education after by mail2 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7d7 as subsection 7e72 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7c7 the following new subsection3 7d7 ,provision of absentee ballot application forms to institutions of higher education ,each ,state shall provide the voter registration and absentee ballot application forms or access to electronic versions of such forms to each institution of higher education for the purposes described in section #dhg7;a77#bc7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid7;a77#bc774 2 and 7#d7 in subsection 7e71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#b71 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#c7 ,requirement to provide voter registration and absentee ballot application forms to institutions of higher education ,each ,state and jurisdiction shall be required to comply with the requirements of subsection 7d7 no later than #cj days after the date of enactment of the ,help ,students ,vote ,act4 4 #g4 ,grants for federal work-study programs ,section #ddc7;b77#b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhg-ec7;b77#b77 is amended to read as follows3 7#b7 provide that funds granted an institution of higher education1 pursuant to this section1 may be used only to make payments to students participating in work-study programs1 except that-- 7,a7 for fiscal year #bjbb and succeeding fiscal years1 an institution shall use at least #be percent of the total amount of funds granted to such institution under this section for such fiscal year to compensate students employed in community service and civic engagement activities1 such as voter registration1 non-partisan voter engagement1 and voter participation work1 and shall ensure that not less than #a tutoring or family literacy project 7as described in subsection 7d77 is included in meeting the requirement of this subparagraph1 except that the ,secretary may waive this subparagraph if the ,secretary determines that enforcing this subparagraph would cause hardship for students at the institution2 and 7,b7 an institution may use a portion of the sums granted to it to meet administrative expenses in accordance with section #dhi of this ,act1 may use a portion of the sums granted to it to meet the cost of a job location and development program in accordance with section #ddf of this part1 and may transfer funds in accordance with the provisions of section #dhh of this ,act2 4