Republican Attorneys General Challenge Biden Administration’s Plan to Pay College Students for Get-Out-the-Vote Campaigns

The Biden administration’s recent effort to allow college students to be paid for get-out-the-vote campus campaigns has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from nearly 20 Republican state attorneys general. The U.S. Department of Education issued guidance in February stating that federal work-study funds could be used to pay students for voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities, leading to concerns about partisan vote harvesting for Democrats.

The attorneys general, representing states such as Texas, South Dakota, and Georgia, wrote a letter to the Education Department expressing their concerns about the potential misuse of taxpayer funds to influence elections. They called on the department to reconsider its guidance and clarify that federal work-study funds cannot be used for such activities.

On the other hand, Democrats and left-wing activists have welcomed the plan, seeing it as a way to mobilize young voters and increase voter participation. The move aligns with the Democratic party’s strategy to engage with young demographics, as seen in the 2020 election where student loan forgiveness was a key campaign issue.

Despite the controversy, the Education Department maintains that using federal funds for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts does not violate standards of bipartisanship. The guidance was issued in response to requests from bipartisan groups, including Secretaries of State and members of Congress.

As the debate continues, the role of college students in shaping election outcomes and the use of federal funds for political activities remain contentious issues. With the upcoming election expected to be influenced by young voters, the debate over the Biden administration’s initiative to pay college students for get-out-the-vote campaigns is likely to intensify.