The Civil Rights Act of 1960, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(C), is Pub. L. 86–449, May 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 86, as amended. Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 1974 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

Rule 53(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (e), is set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

This Act, referred to in subsec. (f), is Pub. L. 85–315, Sept. 9, 1957, 71 Stat. 634, as amended, which enacted sections 1975 to 1975e and 1995 of this title and section 295–1 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees, amended this section and sections 1343 and 1861 of Title 28, repealed section 1993 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 1975 of this title.

R.S. § 2004 derived from act May 31, 1870, ch. 114, § 1, 16 Stat. 140.

In subsec. (e), “section 3331 of title 5” was substituted for “Revised Statutes, section 1757 (5 U.S.C. 16)” on authority of Pub. L. 89–554, § 7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Section was formerly classified to section 31 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.

1965—Subsecs. (a), (c). Pub. L. 89–110, § 15(a), struck out “Federal” before “election” wherever appearing.

Subsecs. (f) to (h). Pub. L. 89–110, § 15(b), redesignated subsecs. (g) and (h) as (f) and (g), respectively, and repealed former subsec. (f) which defined “Federal elections”.

1964—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 88–352, § 101(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added pars. (2) and (3).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 88–352, § 101(b), provided for a rebuttable literacy presumption when a person has not been adjudged an incompetent and has completed the sixth grade of his schooling.

Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 88–352, § 101(c), added subsec. (f) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (g).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 88–352, § 101(d), added subsec. (h).

1960—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 86–449, § 601(b), permitted the State to be joined as a party defendant in cases where officials of a State or subdivision thereof are alleged to have committed acts or practices constituting a deprivation of any rights or privileges secured by subsection (a) of this section, and authorized commencement of the proceeding against the State where an official has resigned or has been relieved of his office and no successor has assumed such office.

Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 86–449, § 601(a), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).

1957—Pub. L. 85–315, § 131, substituted “Voting rights” for “Race, color, or previous condition not to affect right to vote” in section catchline, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), and added subsecs. (b) to (e).

Pub. L. 109–246, § 1, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 577, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 1973a to 1973c, 1973f, 1973j to 1973l, and 1973aa–1a of this title, repealing sections 1973d, 1973e, and 1973g of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1973 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006’.”

Pub. L. 102–344, § 1, Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 921, provided that: “This Act [amending section 1973aa–1a of this title] may be cited as the ‘Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992’.”

Pub. L. 99–410, § 1, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 924, provided that: “This Act [enacting subchapter I–G of this chapter, sections 608 and 609 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and section 3406 of Title 39, Postal Service, amending sections 2401, 3627, and 3684 of Title 39, repealing subchapters I–D and I–E of this chapter, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1973ff of this title] may be cited as the ‘Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act’.”

Pub. L. 97–205, § 1, June 29, 1982, 96 Stat. 131, provided: “That this Act [enacting section 1973aa–6 of this title, amending sections 1973, 1973b, and 1973aa–1a of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1973, 1973b, 1973aa–1a and 1973aa–6 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982’.”

Pub. L. 91–285, § 1, June 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 314, provided: “That this Act [designating existing provisions of Pub. L. 89–110 as subchapter I–A, enacting subchapters I–B and I–C of this chapter, and amending sections 1973b and 1973c of this title] may be cited as the ‘Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970’.”

Pub. L. 86–449, § 1, May 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 84, provided that: “This Act [enacting subchapter II of this chapter and sections 837, 1074, and 1509 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and amending this section and sections 241 and 640 of Title 20, Education] may be cited as the ‘Civil Rights Act of 1960’.”

Pub. L. 85–315, pt. V, § 161, Sept. 9, 1957, 71 Stat. 638, provided that: “This Act [enacting former chapter 20A of this title and section 1995 of this title and section 295–1 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees, amending this section and sections 1343 and 1861 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and repealing section 1993 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Civil Rights Act of 1957’.”

Pub. L. 89–110, § 1, Aug. 6, 1965, 79 Stat. 437, provided that: “This Act [enacting subchapters I–A, I–B, and I–C of this chapter and amending this section] shall be known as the ‘Voting Rights Act of 1965’.”

Act Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 656, § 1, 69 Stat. 584, which provided that such Act, which enacted subchapter I–D of this chapter and repealed sections 301 to 303, 321 to 331, 341, and 351 to 355 of Title 50, War and National Defense, was to be cited as “The Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955”, was repealed by Pub. L. 99–410, title II, § 203, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 930.

Pub. L. 94–203, § 1, Jan. 2, 1976, 89 Stat. 1142, which provided that Pub. L. 94–203, which enacted subchapter I–E of this chapter, was to be cited as “Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975”, was repealed by Pub. L. 99–410, title II, § 203, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 930.

Pub. L. 98–435, § 1, Sept. 28, 1984, 98 Stat. 1678, provided that: “This Act [enacting subchapter I–F of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act’.”

Pub. L. 103–31, § 1, May 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 77, provided that: “This Act [enacting subchapter I–H of this chapter and section 3629 of Title 39, Postal Service, and amending sections 2401 and 3627 of Title 39] may be cited as the ‘National Voter Registration Act of 1993’.”

Section 701 of Pub. L. 86–449 provided that: “If any provisions of this Act [see Short Title note above] is held invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.”

Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 101(j), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1963, provided that: “It is the sense of the Congress that—

“(1) voter registration drives should be encouraged by governmental entities at all levels; and

“(2) voter registration drives conducted by State governments on a nonpartisan basis do not violate the provisions of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (42 U.S.C. 4728, 4763).”