Editorial Notes
References in Text

The Civil Rights Act of 1960, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(C), is Puspan. L. 86–449, May 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 86. Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 is classified generally to chapter 207 (§ 20701 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see 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 Puspan. L. 85–315, Sept. 9, 1957, 71 Stat. 634, which enacted sections 1975 to 1975e and 1995 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, 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Departments and Government Officers and Employees, amended this section and sections 1343 and 1861 of Title 28, repealed section 1993 of Title 42, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 1975 of Title 42.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 1971 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section, and to section 31 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.

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 Puspan. L. 89–554, § 7(span), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Amendments

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

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 (g) and (h) as (f) and (g), respectively, and repealed former subsec.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

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

Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 88–352, § 101(span), 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). Puspan. L. 88–352, § 101(c), added subsec. (f) and redesignated former subsec. (f) as (g).

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

1960—Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 86–449, § 601(span), 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). Puspan. L. 86–449, § 601(a), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).

1957—Puspan. 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. (span) to (e).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title of 2022 Amendment

Puspan. L. 117–182, § 1, Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2178, provided that: “This Act [amending section 21061 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 21061 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access Program Inclusion Act’ or the ‘PAVA Program Inclusion Act’.”

Short Title of 2009 Act

Puspan. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 575, Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2318, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle H (§§ 575–589) of title V of div. A of Puspan. L. 111–84, see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act’.”

Short Title of 2006 Act

Puspan. L. 109–246, § 1, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 577, as amended by Puspan. L. 110–258, § 1, July 1, 2008, 122 Stat. 2428, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, César E. Chávez, Barbara C. Jordan, William C. Velásquez, and Dr. Hector P. Garcia Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006’.”

Short Title of 2002 Act

Puspan. L. 107–252, § 1(a), Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1666, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Help America Vote Act of 2002’.”

Puspan. L. 107–155, § 1(a), Mar. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 81, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002’.”

Short Title of 1993 Act

Puspan. L. 103–31, § 1, May 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 77, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘National Voter Registration Act of 1993’.”

Short Title of 1992 Act

Puspan. L. 102–344, § 1, Aug. 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 921, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992’.”

Short Title of 1986 Act

Puspan. L. 99–410, § 1, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 924, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act’.”

Short Title of 1984 Act

Puspan. L. 98–435, § 1, Sept. 28, 1984, 98 Stat. 1678, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act’.”

Short Title of 1982 Act

Puspan. L. 97–205, § 1, June 29, 1982, 96 Stat. 131, provided: “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982’.”

Short Title of 1980 Act

Puspan. L. 96–187, Jan. 8, 1980, 93 Stat. 1339, provided in part: “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1979’.”

Short Title of 1976 Act

Puspan. L. 94–283, § 1, May 11, 1976, 90 Stat. 475, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1976’.”

Short Title of 1975 Act

Puspan. L. 94–203, § 1, Jan. 2, 1976, 89 Stat. 1142, which provided that Puspan. L. 94–203 (see Tables for classification) was to be cited as “Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act of 1975”, was repealed by Puspan. L. 99–410, title II, § 203, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 930.

Short Title of 1974 Act

Puspan. L. 93–443, Oct. 15, 1974, 88 Stat. 1263, provided in part: “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1974’.”

Short Title of 1972 Act

Puspan. L. 92–225, Fespan. 7, 1972, 86 Stat. 3, provided in part: “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971’.”

Short Title of 1970 Act

Puspan. L. 91–285, § 1, June 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 314, provided: “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970’.”

Short Title of 1965 Act

Puspan. L. 89–110, § 1, Aug. 6, 1965, 79 Stat. 437, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] shall be known as the ‘Voting Rights Act of 1965’.”

Short Title of 1960 Act

Puspan. L. 86–449, § 1, May 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 86, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Civil Rights Act of 1960’.”

Short Title of 1957 Act

Puspan. L. 85–315, pt. V, § 161, Sept. 9, 1957, 71 Stat. 638, provided that: “This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Civil Rights Act of 1957’.”

Short Title of 1955 Act

Act Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 656, § 1, 69 Stat. 584, which provided that such Act (see Tables for classification) was to be cited as “The Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955”, was repealed by Puspan. L. 99–410, title II, § 203, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 930.

Separability

Puspan. L. 86–449, title VII, § 701, May 6, 1960, 74 Stat. 92, provided that: “If any provisions of this Act [see Short Title of 1960 Act note above] is held invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.”

Voter Registration Drives

Puspan. 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).”