HEA: Voter Registration
HEA Title IV, Section 493 (a) (1) (A)
Quick Take:
Since the 1998 reauthorization of the HEA, colleges and universities have been required to distribute hard copies of in-state voter registration forms to students prior to their state's voter registration deadline. Although the 1998 statute anticipated changes in distributing voter registration forms in the future, it did not specifically state that electronic transmission of the forms was legal. The new law clarifies that e-mail messages with links to the state forms are acceptable, as long as the messages are devoted exclusively to voter registration.
When Will This Take Effect?
This provision went into effect when the bill was signed into law on August 14, 2008. Despite its inclusion in Title IV, this provision is not subject to negotiated rulemaking, as the Secretary of Education is not allowed to regulate in this area, and colleges are only required to make a good faith effort at compliance.
Who on Campus May Need to Be Involved?
President; registrar; student affairs; any other office involved in distributing the e-mail message or forms
Additional Resources
HEA101 Web Keyword for More Information: VoterReg