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Title 52 — Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-73not60

§10501 Application of Prohibition to Other States; “test or Device” Defined

Title 52 › Subtitle Subtitle I— Voting Rights › Chapter 105— SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS › § 10501

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

People cannot be denied the right to vote in any federal, state, or local election just because they failed to meet a test or similar requirement. The term "test or device" means any rule someone must meet before voting or registering. It covers four kinds of requirements: proving you can read, write, understand, or interpret something; showing educational achievement or knowledge of a subject; proving you have good moral character; or getting a voucher or endorsement from registered voters or another group.

Full Legal Text

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.

Legislative History

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”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

52 U.S.C. § 10501

Title 52 — Voting and Elections

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60