§10501 — Title 52 Voting and Elections | U.S. Code

Summary

No one can be denied the right to vote in any federal, state, or local election just because they failed a "test or device." A "test or device" means four kinds of rules before voting: showing reading or understanding skills, proving education or subject knowledge, proving good moral character, or getting a voucher from registered voters.

Title 52, §10501

Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)No citizen shall be denied, because of his failure to comply with any test or device, the right to vote in any Federal, State, or local election conducted in any State or political subdivision of a State.

(b)As used in this section, the term “test or device” means any requirement that a person as a prerequisite for voting or registration for voting (1) demonstrate the ability to read, write, understand, or interpret any matter, (2) demonstrate any educational achievement or his knowledge of any particular subject, (3) possess good moral character, or (4) prove his qualifications by the voucher of registered voters or members of any other class.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1973aa of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Some section numbers referenced in amendment notes below reflect the classification of such sections prior to their editorial reclassification to this title.

Amendments

1975—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–73 struck out “Prior to August 6, 1975,” and “as to which the provisions of section 1973b(a) of this title are not in effect by reason of determinations made under section 1973b(b) of this title”.

§10501 Application of prohibition to other States; “test or device” defined

Summary

Title 52, §10501

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata