[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 129 (Thursday, July 31, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S7947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN:
  S. 3390. A bill to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 
to provide for the treatment of institutions of higher education as 
voter registration agencies; to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Student 
Voter Opportunity to Encourage Registration Act of 2008--the Student 
VOTER Act.
  The success of America's experiment in democracy lies in broad 
participation and deep civic engagement. From the Reconstruction 
Amendments, to women's suffrage, to the abolition of the poll tax, and 
finally the ratification of the 26th amendment, we have witnessed a 
steady but difficult march toward a more inclusive nation.
  To realize the full potential of these great strides, the Student 
VOTER Act provides a pathway to participation for America's youth.
  The need for this bill is clear. Despite a small rise in youth voting 
in the current Presidential election cycle, the larger trend is 
unmistakable. Young voters--historically independent-minded--are far 
less likely to cast a ballot than older voters. In the 2004 
Presidential election, only 47 percent of 18 to 24-year-old citizens 
voted, compared to 66 percent of citizens 25 and older. This marked the 
eighth straight Presidential contest in which less than half of these 
young Americans actually participated. In fact, the percentage of young 
Americans who vote today is lower than it was in the first Presidential 
election following the 26th amendment's ratification.
  Several obstacles stand in the way of youth voting. Because so many 
students are first-time voters, they often are unfamiliar with how to 
register. In some States, first-time voters must register in person in 
order to cast an absentee ballot. For students who attend college 
outside of their home State or who do not have access to 
transportation, these requirements can be cumbersome, confusing, and 
insurmountable.
  Of course, apathy contributes to the fact that young voters tend to 
stay home on election day. But studies show that when an effort is made 
to reach out to young voters, they will cast a ballot. If we fail to 
reach out to the youth, we may lose a generation of civically minded 
Americans.
  Congress already tried to encourage youth voting with a provision in 
the Higher Education Act of 1998, which requires colleges and 
universities to make a ``good faith effort'' to register students to 
vote. Many universities fulfill that obligation. For example, even 
before orientation begins, Brown University in Providence provides its 
students with voter registration materials not only for Rhode Island 
but also for each student's home State.
  Unfortunately, too many colleges and universities have failed to 
follow Brown's lead. According to a 2004 Harvard University study, only 
17 percent of colleges and universities nationwide fully comply with 
the Higher Education Act. The health of our democracy suffers as a 
result.
  The Student VOTER Act offers a straightforward solution: it requires 
colleges and universities that receive Federal funds to offer voter 
registration services to students. The Student VOTER Act simply amends 
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, popularly known as the 
Motor Voter Act, to designate colleges and universities that receive 
Federal funds as voter registration agencies.
  That designation is fitting. Our institutions of higher education are 
among the wealthiest in the world, and they lead the globe in producing 
Nobel laureates and scientific breakthroughs. But colleges and 
universities also have a special obligation to educate an active, 
informed citizenry.
  The act does not impose a heavy burden on colleges and universities. 
We know this because the Student VOTER Act builds on the successful 
model of the Motor Voter Act, which brought voter registration to DMV 
offices across the country, adding 5 million voters--mainly 
independents--to the rolls in the 8 months after its passage. While 
some DMV offices simply mail completed registration forms to the 
appropriate clerk or registrar, others now use efficient, easy-to-use 
computer software to submit registrations electronically.
  This means that the price tag of the Student VOTER Act to colleges 
and universities is at most a 42-cent stamp for each student. I know 
most of my fellow Senators would agree that this is not too high a 
price to pay for a lifetime of civic engagement.
  In reality, costs should be even lower. Colleges and universities can 
provide voter registration services at student orientation or during 
class registration using the same technology that DMV offices already 
have implemented.
  Like the Motor Voter Act, this bill should pass with broad bipartisan 
support. It is a low-cost, commonsense solution to the very real 
problem of low youth voter turnout. It represents a natural but modest 
extension of the Higher Education Act and the Motor Voter Act without 
changing or amending any other State or Federal voting regulations in 
any way.
  The bill may also serve to depoliticize voter registration efforts on 
college campuses. Polls consistently show that young voters are less 
likely to identify with a political party than older voters. Polls 
generally show that more than 4 in 10 young voters identify as 
independents, with roughly 3 in 10 young voters identifying with each 
of the two major political parties. In a July 30, 2008 letter sent to 
Congress in support of this bill, the U.S. Student Association 
explained that under the present system, ``partisan student groups 
often become the main voter registrants, which can alienate undecided 
and independent voters. The Student VOTER Bill of 2008 seeks to 
institutionalize the dissemination of voting procedure and register 
more young people in a systematic and non-partisan capacity.''
  In addition to the U.S. Student Association, this bill is supported 
by U.S. PIRG and the Student Association for Voter Empowerment, SAVE. 
In particular, I would like to recognize Matthew Segal, SAVE's founder 
and a Chicago native, with whom my office worked closely to prepare 
this bill.
  I would also like to applaud the efforts of Representative Jan 
Schakowsky, a Democrat, and Representative Steven LaTourette, a 
Republican, who will introduce a companion bill today in the House of 
Representatives. The Student VOTER Bill of 2008 is a bipartisan effort 
that is an important step toward empowering our Nation's youth. I look 
forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues in 
Congress to ensure its enactment into law.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3390

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Student Voter Opportunity To 
     Encourage Registration Act of 2008'' or the ``Student VOTER 
     Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF UNIVERSITIES AS VOTER REGISTRATION 
                   AGENCIES.

       (a) In General.--Section 7(a) of the National Voter 
     Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg-5(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
       (B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) each institution of higher education (as defined in 
     section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1001)) in the State that receives Federal funds.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (6)(A), by inserting ``or, in the case of 
     an institution of higher education, with each registration of 
     a student for enrollment in a course of study'' after 
     ``assistance,''.
       (b) Amendment to Higher Education Act of 1965.--Section 
     487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1094(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (23).
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