The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-23
THE ENFORCEMENT ACT.
An ACT to enforce the right Of citizens Of the Unite
States to vote In the several States Of this Union

An ACT to enforce the right of citizens Of the Unite
States to vote 10 the several States Of this Unioi
and for other purposes.
Be il enacted by the Senate and House Of Repr,
Beniatives of the United States OF America in Con
| gress assembled, That all citizens OF the United
States who are shall BIO Otherwise Qualified by law
to vote at aoy election by the people in ans State
Territory district county, city, parish, township
school district, Municipality other territorial sub
divis on shall be entitled and allowed to vote at al
such elections without distinction Of race, color
previous condition of servitude; any constitution
law custom usage, or regulation OF any State OF
Territory, by under its authority, to the con-
trary no withstandng
BIC. 2. And be IL further enacted, Ihat l! by or
under the authority OF tho constitution or laws OF
any State or the Of any Territory, any act is
shall be required to be done as or quail
fcation for voting and by such constitution or laws
persons or officers are shall be charged with the
perform nce of duties in furnishing to citizens an
opportunity to perform such prerequisite or to be-
come qualified to vote, 1t shall be the duty OF every
such person and officer to give to all ctizeas OF the
United states the same and equal opportunity to per-
form such prerequisite, and TO become quallned TO
vote without dstuction of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude; ana II any such person or
officer shall refuse knowingly omit TO give full eff
feet to this section, he shall for every such offence
forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars to
the person sggreved thereby to be recovered by an
action on the case with full costs and such allowance
for counsel fees the court shall deem Just, and
shall also, for every such offence, be deemed OF
misdemeanor, and shall, on CONVICTION thereof be
fined not lees than i've hundred dollars, or be I'm
prisoned not less than month and not 're than
one year. or both, at the discretion of the court.
SEQ 8. And be il further enacted That whenever
by or under the authority of the constitution or laws
of any State the laws of any Territory, any act
is or shall be required to be done by any citizen as
prerequisite to qualify or enttle him to vote, the
offer OF any citizen to perform tne - &c. req9fen 10
execution by reason OF the wrongful act or omission
aforesaid of the person or officer charged with the
duty Of receiving or permitting such performance or
offer to perform or actiag thereon, be deemed and
held as o performance in law of such act; and the
person 80 offering and failing aforesaid, and being
otherwise qualified, shall be entitled to vote in the
same manner and to the same extent as II he had IN
fact performed such act; and any judge inspector,
or other officer of election whose duty it is or shall
be 10 receive count, certify register report, or give
effect to the vote of any such citizen who shall
wrongfully refuse or omit to receive, count certify
register report give effect to the vote OF such cit
izen upon the presentation by him of his affidavit
stating such offer and place thereof and the name of
the officer or person whose duty it was to act there
on, and that he was wrongfully prevented by
such person or officer from performing such act,
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum
five hundred dollars to the person uggieved there
by, to be recovered by an action on the ctse with
full costs and such allowance for counsel fe AZ the
court shall deem just and shall aso Tor every such
offence be guilty of misdemeanor, and shall, on
conviction thereof be fined not less than five hun
bred dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one
month and not more than one year, or both, at the
SEC. a. And be it fufther enacted, That If
any person, by force, bribery, threats, intmi-
dation or other unlawful means, shall hin.
combine and confederate with others to hinder,
delay, prevent or obstruct, any citizen from doing
any act required to be done to qualify him to vote or
from voting at any election aforesaid III person
sh al for every such offence forfeit and pay the
five hundred dollars to the person aggrieved there
by, to be recovered by action on the case, with
full costs and such allowance for counsel fees the
boIy nat and shRll alaO euCl
offence be guilty of msdemeanor, and shall, On con-
vict,on thereof be fined not less than FIVE hundred
dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one month
and not more than year, or both at the discre-
ton of the court.
SEQ g. and be it further enacted, That IT any per
son shall prevent, hinder, control, or intimidate or
shall attempt to prevent, hind r. control. or intmi-
date any per from csing In exercising the
right of suffrage to whom the right of suffrage is
secured or guaranteed by the fifteenth amendment
to the Constitution of the United States. by means
of bribery threats threats of depriving such per
of employment or occupation, or ofeect1ng such
person from rented house. lands, or other property
or by threats of refusing to leases contracts
for labor, or by threats of violence TO himself or
family, such person SO offending shall be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction
thereof be fined not less than five hundred dollaIs
or be Imprisoned not less than one month and not
more than one year, or both, at the discretion OF
the court.
SEQ g. And be it further enacted, That the district
courts of the United Saes within their respective
districts shall have, exclusively of the courts Of the
several States cognzance of all crimes and offences
committed sgainst the provisions of this act and
also, concurrently with the circuit courts of the
United States of all causes. civil and criminal arts.
ing under this act, except as herein otherwise pro
vided and the Jurisdiction hereby conferred shall be
exercised In conformity with the laws and practice
governing United States courts and all crimes and
offences committed against the provisions of this act
may be prosecuted by the Indictment OF grand
Jury or in cases of crimes and offences not infamous
the prosecution may be either by indictment or in
form iton filed by the district attorney in court
having Jurisdiction.