52 U.S.C. § 10508 — Voting assistance for blind, disabled or

Page 23 TITLE 52—VOTING AND ELECTIONS § 10508 1 See References in Text note below. States, an action in a district court of the United States, in accordance with sections 1391 through 1393 1 of title 28, for a restraining order, a preliminary or permanent injunction, or such other order as he deems appropriate. An action under this subsection shall be heard and deter- mined by a court of three judges in accordance with the provisions of section 2284 of title 28 and any appeal shall be to the Supreme Court. (Pub. L. 89–110, title II, § 204, formerly § 203, as added Pub. L. 91–285, § 6, June 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 317; renumbered § 204 and amended Pub. L. 94–73, title III, §§ 302, 303, title IV, § 406, Aug. 6, 1975, 89 Stat. 403, 405.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 1393 of title 28, referred to in text, was re- pealed by Pub. L. 100–702, title X, § 1001(a), Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 4664. CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 1973aa–2 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to edi- torial 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—Pub. L. 94–73 inserted reference to section 1973aa–1a of this title and substituted reference to sec- tion 2284 of title 28 for reference to section 2282 of title 28. § 10505. Penalty Whoever shall deprive or attempt to deprive any person of any right secured by section 10501, 10502, or 10503 of this title shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (Pub. L. 89–110, title II, § 205, formerly § 204, as added Pub. L. 91–285, § 6, June 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 317; renumbered § 205 and amended Pub. L. 94–73, title III, §§ 302, 304, Aug. 6, 1975, 89 Stat. 403.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 1973aa–3 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to edi- torial 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—Pub. L. 94–73 inserted reference to section 1973aa–1a of this title. § 10506. Separability If any provision of chapters 103 to 107 of this title or the application of any provision thereof to any person or circumstance is judicially de- termined to be invalid, the remainder of chap- ters 103 to 107 of this title or the application of such provision to other persons or cir- cumstances shall not be affected by such deter- mination. (Pub. L. 89–110, title II, § 206, formerly § 205, as added Pub. L. 91–285, § 6, June 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 318; renumbered § 206, Pub. L. 94–73, title III, § 302, Aug. 6, 1975, 89 Stat. 403.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 1973aa–4 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to edi- torial reclassification and renumbering as this section. § 10507. Survey to compile registration and vot- ing statistics (a) Elections to House of Representatives and elections designated by United States Com- mission on Civil Rights Congress hereby directs the Director of the Census forthwith to conduct a survey to compile registration and voting statistics: (i) in every State or political subdivision with respect to which the prohibitions of section 10303(a) of this title are in effect, for every statewide general election for Members of the United States House of Representatives after January 1, 1974; and (ii) in every State or political subdivision for any election designated by the United States Com- mission on Civil Rights. Such surveys shall only include a count of citizens of voting age, race or color, and national origin, and a determination of the extent to which such persons are reg- istered to vote and have voted in the elections surveyed. (b) Prohibition against compulsion to disclose personal data; advice of rights In any survey under subsection (a) of this sec- tion no person shall be compelled to disclose his race, color, national origin, political party af- filiation, or how he voted (or the reasons there- for), nor shall any penalty be imposed for his failure or refusal to make such disclosures. Every person interrogated orally, by written survey or questionnaire, or by any other means with respect to such information shall be fully advised of his right to fail or refuse to furnish such information. (c) Report to Congress The Director of the Census shall, at the ear- liest practicable time, report to the Congress the results of every survey conducted pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this sec- tion. (d) Confidentiality of information; penalties The provisions of section 9 and chapter 7 of title 13 shall apply to any survey, collection, or compilation of registration and voting statistics carried out under subsection (a) of this section. (Pub. L. 89–110, title II, § 207, as added Pub. L. 94–73, title IV, § 403, Aug. 6, 1975, 89 Stat. 404.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 1973aa–5 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to edi- torial reclassification and renumbering as this section. § 10508. Voting assistance for blind, disabled or illiterate persons Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to Page 24 TITLE 52—VOTING AND ELECTIONS § 10701 read or write may be given assistance by a per- son of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union. (Pub. L. 89–110, title II, § 208, as added Pub. L. 97–205, § 5, June 29, 1982, 96 Stat. 135.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 1973aa–6 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to edi- torial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Pub. L. 97–205, § 5, June 29, 1982, 96 Stat. 134, provided that this section is effective Jan. 1, 1984. CHAPTER 107—RIGHT TO VOTE AT AGE EIGHTEEN Sec. 10701. Enforcement of twenty-sixth amendment. 10702. ‘‘State’’ defined. § 10701. Enforcement of twenty-sixth amendment (a)(1) The Attorney General is directed to in- stitute, 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 Con- stitution 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 de- termined by a court of three judges in accord- ance 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. (Pub. L. 89–110, title III, § 301, as added Pub. L. 91–285, § 6, June 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 318; amended Pub. L. 94–73, title IV, § 407, Aug. 6, 1975, 89 Stat. 405.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 1973bb of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to edi- torial reclassification and renumbering as this section. AMENDMENTS 1975—Pub. L. 94–73 substituted provisions authorizing the Attorney General to institute proceedings to en- force twenty-sixth amendment, the jurisdiction of the district courts, and penalties for denial of rights se- cured by twenty-sixth amendment, for provisions relat- ing to Congressional findings and prohibition of denial of right to vote on account of age. § 10702. ‘‘State’’ defined As used in this chapter, the term ‘‘State’’ in- cludes the District of Columbia. (Pub. L. 89–110, title III, § 302, as added Pub. L. 91–285, § 6, June 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 318; amended Pub. L. 94–73, title IV, § 407, Aug. 6, 1975, 89 Stat. 405.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 1973bb–1 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to edi- torial reclassification and renumbering as this section. AMENDMENTS 1975—Pub. L. 94–73 substituted definition of State for provisions prohibiting denial of right to vote because of age. Subtitle II—Voting Assistance and Election Administration Executive Documents EX. ORD. NO. 14019. PROMOTING ACCESS TO VOTING Ex. Ord. No. 14019, Mar. 7, 2021, 86 F.R. 13623, provided: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: SECTION 1. Purpose. The right to vote is the founda- tion of American democracy. Free and fair elections that reflect the will of the American people must be protected and defended. But many Americans, espe- cially people of color, confront significant obstacles to exercising that fundamental right. These obstacles in- clude difficulties with voter registration, lack of elec- tion information, and barriers to access at polling places. For generations, Black voters and other voters of color have faced discriminatory policies and other obstacles that disproportionally affect their commu- nities. These voters remain more likely to face long lines at the polls and are disproportionately burdened by voter identification laws and limited opportunities to vote by mail. Limited access to language assistance remains a barrier for many voters. People with disabil- ities continue to face barriers to voting and are denied legally required accommodations in exercising their fundamental rights and the ability to vote privately and independently. Members of our military serving overseas, as well as other American citizens living abroad, also face challenges to exercising their funda- mental right to vote. The Constitution and laws of the United States pro- hibit racial discrimination and protect the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 [52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.] and other Federal statutes implement those pro- tections and assign the Federal Government a key role in remedying disenfranchisement and unequal access to the polls. In passing the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 [52 U.S.C. 20501 et seq.], the Congress found that it is the duty of Federal, State, and local govern- ments to promote the exercise of the fundamental right to vote. Executive departments and agencies (agencies) should partner with State, local, Tribal, and territorial election officials to protect and promote the exercise of the right to vote, eliminate discrimination and other barriers to voting, and expand access to voter registra- tion and accurate election information. It is our duty to ensure that registering to vote and the act of voting be made simple and easy for all those eligible to do so. SEC. 2. Policy. It is the policy of my Administration to promote and defend the right to vote for all Ameri- cans who are legally entitled to participate in elec- tions. It is the responsibility of the Federal Govern- ment to expand access to, and education about, voter registration and election information, and to combat misinformation, in order to enable all eligible Ameri- cans to participate in our democracy. SEC. 3. Expanding Access to Voter Registration and Elec- tion Information. Agencies shall consider ways to ex-