Title 52 — Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-73
§10101 Voting rights
Title 52 › Subtitle Subtitle I— - Voting Rights › Chapter CHAPTER 101— - GENERALLY › § 10101
Summary
Guarantees that every U.S. citizen who meets a state’s voting rules can vote in any state, territory, county, city, school district, or other local election. Voting cannot be denied because of race, color, or past slavery. Officials may not use different rules for people in the same local area who are otherwise treated as qualified. A person cannot be turned away for small mistakes on forms if the mistake does not matter to whether they are legally allowed to vote. Literacy tests are largely limited: they must be written for everyone and, if a person asks during the time records must be kept, a certified copy of the test and the person’s answers must be given to them within 25 days. The Attorney General may work with state or local officials to run such tests in ways that meet these rules and help people with disabilities. No one may intimidate or threaten people to keep them from voting or to make them vote for or against federal candidates. The Attorney General can sue to stop or prevent violations and ask for injunctions or other relief. Federal courts must hear these cases quickly and can act even if other remedies were not tried first. If a court finds discrimination based on race or color as a pattern or practice, people in the affected area may get court orders saying they are qualified to vote for one year and until the court finds the problem ended. The court can appoint voting referees to take evidence and report, and must hear applications within ten days. If an application is still undecided close to an election, the court can let the person vote provisionally and hold the ballot until the case is decided. Someone who finished sixth grade in a mostly English-language school in a State, territory, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico is presumed to have enough literacy to vote unless shown otherwise. People cited for contempt may have up to two lawyers, and the court must provide lawyers if they cannot pay. The Attorney General or a defendant may ask for a three-judge court within 20 days, and appeals go to the Supreme Court.
Full Legal Text
Title 52, §10101
Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)All citizens of the United States who are otherwise qualified by law to vote at any election by the people in any State, Territory, district, county, city, parish, township, school district, municipality, or other territorial subdivision, shall be entitled and allowed to vote at all such elections, without distinction of race, color, or previous condition of servitude; any constitution, law, custom, usage, or regulation of any State or Territory, or by or under its authority, to the contrary notwithstanding.
(2)No person acting under color of law shall—
(A)in determining whether any individual is qualified under State law or laws to vote in any election, apply any standard, practice, or procedure different from the standards, practices, or procedures applied under such law or laws to other individuals within the same county, parish, or similar political subdivision who have been found by State officials to be qualified to vote;
(B)deny the right of any individual to vote in any election because of an error or omission on any record or paper relating to any application, registration, or other act requisite to voting, if such error or omission is not material in determining whether such individual is qualified under State law to vote in such election; or
(C)employ any literacy test as a qualification for voting in any election unless (i) such test is administered to each individual and is conducted wholly in writing, and (ii) a certified copy of the test and of the answers given by the individual is furnished to him within twenty-five days of the submission of his request made within the period of time during which records and papers are required to be retained and preserved pursuant to title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 [52 U.S.C. 20701 et seq.]: Provided, however, That the Attorney General may enter into agreements with appropriate State or local authorities that preparation, conduct, and maintenance of such tests in accordance with the provisions of applicable State or local law, including such special provisions as are necessary in the preparation, conduct, and maintenance of such tests for persons who are blind or otherwise physically handicapped, meet the purposes of this subparagraph and constitute compliance therewith.
(3)For purposes of this subsection—
(A)the term “vote” shall have the same meaning as in subsection (e) of this section;
(B)the phrase “literacy test” includes any test of the ability to read, write, understand, or interpret any matter.
(b)No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, Member of the Senate, or Member of the House of Representatives, Delegates or Commissioners from the Territories or possessions, at any general, special, or primary election held solely or in part for the purpose of selecting or electing any such candidate.
(c)Whenever any person has engaged or there are reasonable grounds to believe that any person is about to engage in any act or practice which would deprive any other person of any right or privilege secured by subsection (a) or (b), the Attorney General may institute for the United States, or in the name of the United States, a civil action or other proper proceeding for preventive relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order. If in any such proceeding literacy is a relevant fact there shall be a rebuttable presumption that any person who has not been adjudged an incompetent and who has completed the sixth grade in a public school in, or a private school accredited by, any State or territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico where instruction is carried on predominantly in the English language, possesses sufficient literacy, comprehension, and intelligence to vote in any election. In any proceeding hereunder the United States shall be liable for costs the same as a private person. Whenever, in a proceeding instituted under this subsection any official of a State or subdivision thereof is alleged to have committed any act or practice constituting a deprivation of any right or privilege secured by subsection (a), the act or practice shall also be deemed that of the State and the State may be joined as a party defendant and, if, prior to the institution of such proceeding, such official has resigned or has been relieved of his office and no successor has assumed such office, the proceeding may be instituted against the State.
(d)The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of proceedings instituted pursuant to this section and shall exercise the same without regard to whether the party aggrieved shall have exhausted any administrative or other remedies that may be provided by law.
(e)In any proceeding instituted pursuant to subsection (c) in the event the court finds that any person has been deprived on account of race or color of any right or privilege secured by subsection (a), the court shall upon request of the Attorney General and after each party has been given notice and the opportunity to be heard make a finding whether such deprivation was or is pursuant to a pattern or practice. If the court finds such pattern or practice, any person of such race or color resident within the affected area shall, for one year and thereafter until the court subsequently finds that such pattern or practice has ceased, be entitled, upon his application therefor, to an order declaring him qualified to vote, upon proof that at any election or elections (1) he is qualified under State law to vote, and (2) he has since such finding by the court been (a) deprived of or denied under color of law the opportunity to register to vote or otherwise to qualify to vote, or (b) found not qualified to vote by any person acting under color of law. Such order shall be effective as to any election held within the longest period for which such applicant could have been registered or otherwise qualified under State law at which the applicant’s qualifications would under State law entitle him to vote. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of State law or the action of any State officer or court, an applicant so declared qualified to vote shall be permitted to vote in any such election. The Attorney General shall cause to be transmitted certified copies of such order to the appropriate election officers. The refusal by any such officer with notice of such order to permit any person so declared qualified to vote to vote at an appropriate election shall constitute contempt of court. An application for an order pursuant to this subsection shall be heard within ten days, and the execution of any order disposing of such application shall not be stayed if the effect of such stay would be to delay the effectiveness of the order beyond the date of any election at which the applicant would otherwise be enabled to vote. The court may appoint one or more persons who are qualified voters in the judicial district, to be known as voting referees, who shall subscribe to the oath of office required by section 3331 of title 5, to serve for such period as the court shall determine, to receive such applications and to take evidence and report to the court findings as to whether or not at any election or elections (1) any such applicant is qualified under State law to vote, and (2) he has since the finding by the court heretofore specified been (a) deprived of or denied under color of law the opportunity to register to vote or otherwise to qualify to vote, or (b) found not qualified to vote by any person acting under color of law. In a proceeding before a voting referee, the applicant shall be heard ex parte at such times and places as the court shall direct. His statement under oath shall be prima facie evidence as to his age, residence, and his prior efforts to register or otherwise qualify to vote. Where proof of literacy or an understanding of other subjects is required by valid provisions of State law, the answer of the applicant, if written, shall be included in such report to the court; if oral, it shall be taken down stenographically and a transcription included in such report to the court. Upon receipt of such report, the court shall cause the Attorney General to transmit a copy thereof to the State attorney general and to each party to such proceeding together with an order to show cause within ten days, or such shorter time as the court may fix, why an order of the court should not be entered in accordance with such report. Upon the expiration of such period, such order shall be entered unless prior to that time there has been filed with the court and served upon all parties a statement of exceptions to such report. Exceptions as to matters of fact shall be considered only if supported by a duly verified copy of a public record or by affidavit of persons having personal knowledge of such facts or by statements or matters contained in such report; those relating to matters of law shall be supported by an appropriate memorandum of law. The issues of fact and law raised by such exceptions shall be determined by the court or, if the due and speedy administration of justice requires, they may be referred to the voting referee to determine in accordance with procedures prescribed by the court. A hearing as to an issue of fact shall be held only in the event that the proof in support of the exception disclose the existence of a genuine issue of material fact. The applicant’s literacy and understanding of other subjects shall be determined solely on the basis of answers included in the report of the voting referee. The court, or at its direction the voting referee, shall issue to each applicant so declared qualified a certificate identifying the holder thereof as a person so qualified. Any voting referee appointed by the court pursuant to this subsection shall to the extent not inconsistent herewith have all the powers conferred upon a master by rule 53(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The compensation to be allowed to any persons appointed by the court pursuant to this subsection shall be fixed by the court and shall be payable by the United States. Applications pursuant to this subsection shall be determined expeditiously. In the case of any application filed twenty or more days prior to an election which is undetermined by the time of such election, the court shall issue an order authorizing the applicant to vote provisionally: Provided, however, That such applicant shall be qualified to vote under State law. In the case of an application filed within twenty days prior to an election, the court, in its discretion, may make such an order. In either case the order shall make appropriate provision for the impounding of the applicant’s ballot pending determination of the application. The court may take any other action, and may authorize such referee or such other person as it may designate to take any other action, appropriate or necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection and to enforce its decrees. This subsection shall in no way be construed as a limitation upon the existing powers of the court. When used in the subsection, the word “vote” includes all action necessary to make a vote effective including, but not limited to, registration or other action required by State law prerequisite to voting, casting a ballot, and having such ballot counted and included in the appropriate totals of votes cast with respect to candidates for public office and propositions for which votes are received in an election; the words “affected area” shall mean any subdivision of the State in which the laws of the State relating to voting are or have been to any extent administered by a person found in the proceeding to have violated subsection (a); and the words “qualified under State law” shall mean qualified according to the laws, customs, or usages of the State, and shall not, in any event, imply qualifications more stringent than those used by the persons found in the proceeding to have violated subsection (a) in qualifying persons other than those of the race or color against which the pattern or practice of discrimination was found to exist.
(f)Any person cited for an alleged contempt under this Act shall be allowed to make his full defense by counsel learned in the law; and the court before which he is cited or tried, or some judge thereof, shall immediately, upon his request, assign to him such counsel, not exceeding two, as he may desire, who shall have free access to him at all reasonable hours. He shall be allowed, in his defense to make any proof that he can produce by lawful witnesses, and shall have the like process of the court to compel his witnesses to appear at his trial or hearing, as is usually granted to compel witnesses to appear on behalf of the prosecution. If such person shall be found by the court to be financially unable to provide for such counsel, it shall be the duty of the court to provide such counsel.
(g)In any proceeding instituted by the United States in any district court of the United States under this section in which the Attorney General requests a finding of a pattern or practice of discrimination pursuant to subsection (e) of this section the Attorney General, at the time he files the complaint, or any defendant in the proceeding, within twenty days after service upon him of the complaint, may file with the clerk of such court a request that a court of three judges be convened to hear and determine the entire case. A copy of the request for a three-judge court shall be immediately furnished by such clerk to the chief judge of the circuit (or in his absence, the presiding circuit judge of the circuit) in which the case is pending. Upon receipt of the copy of such request it shall be the duty of the chief judge of the circuit or the presiding circuit judge, as the case may be, to designate immediately three judges in such circuit, of whom at least one shall be a circuit judge and another of whom shall be a district judge of the court in which the proceeding was instituted, to hear and determine such case, and it shall be the duty of the judges so designated to assign the case for hearing at the earliest practicable date, to participate in the hearing and determination thereof, and to cause the case to be in every way expedited. An appeal from the final judgment of such court will lie to the Supreme Court. In any proceeding brought under subsection (c) of this section to enforce subsection (b) of this section, or in the event neither the Attorney General nor any defendant files a request for a three-judge court in any proceeding authorized by this subsection, it shall be the duty of the chief judge of the district (or in his absence, the acting chief judge) in which the case is pending immediately to designate a judge in such district to hear and determine the case. In the event that no judge in the district is available to hear and determine the case, the chief judge of the district, or the acting chief judge, as the case may be, shall certify this fact to the chief judge of the circuit (or, in his absence, the acting chief judge) who shall then designate a district or circuit judge of the circuit to hear and determine the case. It shall be the duty of the judge designated pursuant to this section to assign the case for hearing at the earliest practicable date and to cause the case to be in every way expedited.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
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. 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 Pub. 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 section 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 Pub. L. 89–554, § 7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
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).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
of 2024 Amendment Pub. L. 118–106, § 1, Oct. 4, 2024, 138 Stat. 1591, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 21083a of this title and amending section 21084, 21085, and 21111 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Confirmation Of Congressional Observer Access Act of 2024’ or the ‘COCOA Act of 2024’.”
Short Title
of 2022 Amendment Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. L. 111–84, see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act’.”
Short Title
of 2006 Act Pub. L. 109–246, § 1,
July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 577, as amended by Pub. 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 Pub. 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’.” Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. L. 94–203, § 1, Jan. 2, 1976, 89 Stat. 1142, which provided that Pub. L. 94–203 (see Tables for classification) 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.
Short Title
of 1974 Act Pub. 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 Pub. L. 92–225, Feb. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. 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 Pub. 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 ActAct 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 Pub. L. 99–410, title II, § 203, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 930. Separability Pub. 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 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).”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
52 U.S.C. § 10101
Title 52 — Voting and Elections
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73