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Title 52, Voting and ElectionsRelease 119-110

§21145 No Effect on Other Laws

Title 52 › Subtitle II — Voting Assistance and Election Administration › CHAPTER 209 — ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IMPROVEMENT › SUBCHAPTER VII — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 21145

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Except as allowed under section 21083(b) about the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, nothing in this chapter may be used to allow or require behavior that would break, override, or limit certain federal voting and disability laws. That includes six laws: the Voting Rights Act of 1965; the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act; the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If the Administrator or the Commission approves a payment or grant application, or takes other action under subchapter I or II, that approval does not change or affect preclearance under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or any other requirements of that Act.

Full Legal Text

Title 52, §21145

Voting and Elections, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
Except as specifically provided in section 21083(b) of this title with regard to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg et seq.) [now 52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.], nothing in this chapter may be construed to authorize or require conduct prohibited under any of the following laws, or to supersede, restrict, or limit the application of such laws:
(1)The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.) [now 52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.].
(2)The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ee et seq.) [now 52 U.S.C. 20101 et seq.].
(3)The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ff et seq.) [now 52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.].
(4)The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg et seq.) [now 52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.].
(5)The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).
(6)The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.).
(b)No effect on preclearance or other requirements under Voting Rights Act
The approval by the Administrator or the Commission of a payment or grant application under subchapter I or subchapter II, or any other action taken by the Commission or a State under such subchapter, shall not be considered to have any effect on requirements for preclearance under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973c) [now 52 U.S.C. 10304] or any other requirements of such Act [52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.].

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 103–31,
May 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 77, which is classified principally to chapter 205 (§ 20501 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 107–252, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1666, known as the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Voting Rights Act of 1965, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (b), is Pub. L. 89–110, Aug. 6, 1965, 79 Stat. 437, which is classified generally to chapters 103 (§ 10301 et seq.), 105 (§ 10501 et seq.), and 107 (§ 10701 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is Pub. L. 98–435, Sept. 28, 1984, 98 Stat. 1678, which is classified generally to chapter 201 (§ 20101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is Pub. L. 99–410, Aug. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 924, which is classified principally to chapter 203 (§ 20301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (a)(5), is Pub. L. 101–336,
July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 327, which is classified principally to chapter 126 (§ 12101 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 12101 of Title 42 and Tables. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (a)(6), is Pub. L. 93–112, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 355, which is classified generally to chapter 16 (§ 701 et seq.) of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 701 of Title 29 and Tables. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 15545 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

52 U.S.C. § 21145

Title 52, Voting and Elections

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110