Source
(R.S. § 2004; Pub. L. 85–315, pt. IV, § 131, Sept. 9, 1957, 71 Stat. 637; Pub. L. 86–449, title VI, § 601, May 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 90; Pub. L. 88–352, title I, § 101, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241; Pub. L. 89–110, § 15, Aug. 6, 1965, 79 Stat. 445.)
References in Text
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28, repealed section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.
Codification
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.
Amendments
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 (g) and (h) as (f) and (g), respectively, and repealed former subsec.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).
Short Title of 1992 Amendment
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’.”
Short Title of 1986 Amendment
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’.”
Short Title of 1982 Amendment
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’.”
Short Title of 1970 Amendment
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’.”
Short Title of 1960 Amendment
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’.”
Short Title of 1957 Amendment
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’.”
Short Title
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’.”
Separability
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.”
Voter Registration Drives
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).”