
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC1973h]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                     CHAPTER 20--ELECTIVE FRANCHISE
 
              SUBCHAPTER I-A--ENFORCEMENT OF VOTING RIGHTS
 
Sec. 1973h. Poll taxes


(a) Congressional finding and declaration of policy against enforced 
        payment of poll taxes as a device to impair voting rights

    The Congress finds that the requirement of the payment of a poll tax 
as a precondition to voting (i) precludes persons of limited means from 
voting or imposes unreasonable financial hardship upon such persons as a 
precondition to their exercise of the franchise, (ii) does not bear a 
reasonable relationship to any legitimate State interest in the conduct 
of elections, and (iii) in some areas has the purpose or effect of 
denying persons the right to vote because of race or color. Upon the 
basis of these findings, Congress declares that the constitutional right 
of citizens to vote is denied or abridged in some areas by the 
requirement of the payment of a poll tax as a precondition to voting.

(b) Authority of Attorney General to institute actions for relief 
        against enforcement of poll tax requirement

    In the exercise of the powers of Congress under section 5 of the 
fourteenth amendment, section 2 of the fifteenth amendment and section 2 
of the twenty-fourth amendment, the Attorney General is authorized and 
directed to institute forthwith in the name of the United States such 
actions, including actions against States or political subdivisions, for 
declaratory judgment or injunctive relief against the enforcement of any 
requirement of the payment of a poll tax as a precondition to voting, or 
substitute therefor enacted after November 1, 1964, as will be necessary 
to implement the declaration of subsection (a) of this section and the 
purposes of this section.

(c) Jurisdiction of three-judge district courts; appeal to Supreme Court

    The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of 
such actions which shall be heard and determined by a court of three 
judges in accordance with the provisions of 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 at the 
earliest practicable date, to participate in the hearing and 
determination thereof, and to cause the case to be in every way 
expedited.

(Pub. L. 89-110, title I, Sec. 10, Aug. 6, 1965, 79 Stat. 442; 
renumbered title I, Pub. L. 91-285, Sec. 2, June 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 314; 
amended Pub. L. 94-73, title IV, Sec. 408, Aug. 6, 1975, 89 Stat. 405.)


                               Amendments

    1975--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94-73, Sec. 408(2), (3), inserted 
reference to section 2 of twenty-fourth amendment.
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94-73, Sec. 408(1), struck out subsec. (d) 
which related to post-payment of poll taxes in event of a judicial 
declaration of constitutionality.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 1973j of this title.
