
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC1973l]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                     CHAPTER 20--ELECTIVE FRANCHISE
 
              SUBCHAPTER I-A--ENFORCEMENT OF VOTING RIGHTS
 
Sec. 1973l. Enforcement proceedings


(a) Criminal contempt

    All cases of criminal contempt arising under the provisions of 
subchapters I-A to I-C of this chapter shall be governed by section 1995 
of this title.

(b) Jurisdiction of courts for declaratory judgment, restraining orders, 
        or temporary or permanent injunction

    No court other than the District Court for the District of Columbia 
or a court of appeals in any proceeding under section 1973g of this 
title shall have jurisdiction to issue any declaratory judgment pursuant 
to section 1973b or 1973c of this title or any restraining order or 
temporary or permanent injunction against the execution or enforcement 
of any provision of subchapters I-A to I-C of this chapter or any action 
of any Federal officer or employee pursuant hereto.

(c) Definitions

    (1) The terms ``vote'' or ``voting'' shall include all action 
necessary to make a vote effective in any primary, special, or general 
election, including, but not limited to, registration, listing pursuant 
to this subchapter, or other action required by law prerequisite to 
voting, casting a ballot, and having such ballot counted properly and 
included in the appropriate totals of votes cast with respect to 
candidates for public or party office and propositions for which votes 
are received in an election.
    (2) The term ``political subdivision'' shall mean any county or 
parish, except that where registration for voting is not conducted under 
the supervision of a county or parish, the term shall include any other 
subdivision of a State which conducts registration for voting.
    (3) The term ``language minorities'' or ``language minority group'' 
means persons who are American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Natives 
or of Spanish heritage.

(d) Subpenas

    In any action for a declaratory judgment brought pursuant to section 
1973b or 1973c of this title, subpenas for witnesses who are required to 
attend the District Court for the District of Columbia may be served in 
any judicial district of the United States: Provided, That no writ of 
subpena shall issue for witnesses without the District of Columbia at a 
greater distance than one hundred miles from the place of holding court 
without the permission of the District Court for the District of 
Columbia being first had upon proper application and cause shown.

(e) Attorney's fees

    In any action or proceeding to enforce the voting guarantees of the 
fourteenth or fifteenth amendment, the court, in its discretion, may 
allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable 
attorney's fee as part of the costs.

(Pub. L. 89-110, title I, Sec. 14, Aug. 6, 1965, 79 Stat. 445; 
renumbered title I, Pub. L. 91-285, Sec. 2, June 22, 1970, 84 Stat. 314; 
amended Pub. L. 94-73, title II, Sec. 207, title IV, Sec. 402, Aug. 6, 
1975, 89 Stat. 402, 404.)


                               Amendments

    1975--Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 94-73, Sec. 207, added par. (3).
    Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 94-73, Sec. 402, added subsec. (e).
