This bill establishes a new observance called "National Voter Registration Day" on the third Tuesday of September each year, or the following Tuesday if it coincides with a major religious holiday. Public high schools are required to coordinate voter registration events in history or social studies classes for high school seniors, and potentially for students in other grades, as part of a "future voter program." The bill mandates that students who are eligible to register to vote be provided with both online and paper registration options during these events, ensuring adequate time for completion. Additionally, the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the secretary of state, is tasked with updating youth voter registration materials annually and reporting on progress towards achieving a goal of at least 50,000 new voter registrations for high school students each year.

The bill also amends existing law regarding "Temperance and Good Citizenship Day," changing the focus from social studies teachers to public high schools coordinating voter registration events in alignment with the new National Voter Registration Day. The amendments remove previous requirements for the event and instead emphasize supporting students who missed the opportunity to register earlier in the school year. The superintendent of public instruction is also required to report on the number of students registered to vote and provide recommendations for increasing youth voter registration, ensuring a comprehensive approach to engaging young voters in the electoral process.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 28A.230.150
Substitute bill: 28A.230.150