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Title 52 — Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-73

§10701 Enforcement of twenty-sixth amendment

Title 52 › Subtitle Subtitle I— - Voting Rights › Chapter CHAPTER 107— - RIGHT TO VOTE AT AGE EIGHTEEN › § 10701

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General must bring lawsuits in the name of the United States against states or local governments when needed to enforce the 26th Amendment. Those cases go to federal district courts and are heard by a three‑judge panel. Appeals go to the Supreme Court, and the judges must set hearings and move the case quickly. Anyone who denies or tries to deny a right protected by the 26th Amendment can be fined up to $5,000, jailed for up to five years, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 52, §10701

Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Attorney General is directed to institute, in the name of the United States, such actions against States or political subdivisions, including actions for injunctive relief, as he may determine to be necessary to implement the twenty-sixth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(2)The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of proceedings instituted under this chapter, which shall be heard and determined by a court of three judges in accordance with section 2284 of title 28, and any appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court. It shall be the duty of the judges designated to hear the case to assign the case for hearing and determination thereof, and to cause the case to be in every way expedited.
(b)Whoever shall deny or attempt to deny any person of any right secured by the twenty-sixth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1973bb of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

1975—Pub. L. 94–73 substituted provisions authorizing the Attorney General to institute proceedings to enforce twenty-sixth amendment, the jurisdiction of the district courts, and penalties for denial of rights secured by twenty-sixth amendment, for provisions relating to Congressional findings and prohibition of denial of right to vote on account of age.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

52 U.S.C. § 10701

Title 52 — Voting and Elections

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73