US Code

Public Law 119-87 (04/30/2026)

52 U.S.C. § 20501

Findings and purposes

(a)

Findings

The Congress finds that—
(1)
the right of citizens of the United States to vote is a fundamental right;
(2)
it is the duty of the Federal, State, and local governments to promote the exercise of that right; and
(3)
discriminatory and unfair registration laws and procedures can have a direct and damaging effect on voter participation in elections for Federal office and disproportionately harm voter participation by various groups, including racial minorities.
(b)

Purposes

The purposes of this chapter are—
(1)
to establish procedures that will increase the number of eligible citizens who register to vote in elections for Federal office;
(2)
to make it possible for Federal, State, and local governments to implement this chapter in a manner that enhances the participation of eligible citizens as voters in elections for Federal office;
(3)
to protect the integrity of the electoral process; and
(4)
to ensure that accurate and current voter registration rolls are maintained.

Pub. L. 103–31, § 2107 Stat. 77 (, , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 103–31107 Stat. 77 This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Codification

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

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–31, § 13107 Stat. 89

“This Act [see Tables for classification] shall take effect—
“(1)
with respect to a State that on the date of enactment of this Act [] has a provision in the constitution of the State that would preclude compliance with this Act unless the State maintained separate Federal and State official lists of eligible voters, on the later of—
“(A)
; or
“(B)
the date that is 120 days after the date by which, under the constitution of the State as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, it would be legally possible to adopt and place into effect any amendments to the constitution of the State that are necessary to permit such compliance with this Act without requiring a special election; and
“(2)
with respect to any State not described in paragraph (1), on .”
, , , provided that:

Proof of Citizenship

Pub. L. 104–132, title IX, § 902110 Stat. 1317

“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Federal, State, or local government agency may not use a voter registration card (or other related document) that evidences registration for an election for Federal office, as evidence to prove United States citizenship.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 104–91, title I, § 101(a)110 Stat. 11 Pub. L. 104–99, title II, § 211110 Stat. 37 Similar provisions were contained in section 117 of H.R. 2076, One Hundred Fourth Congress, as passed by the House of Representatives on , and as enacted into law by , , , as amended by , , .