The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-29
THE ENFORCEMENT ACT

An Act to enforce the right of citizens of the Unite
States to vote In the several States of this Union
and for other purposes
Be Il enacted BY the Senate and House of Re pre-
sentativea OF the United States Of America in Con
gress assembled, That all citizens of the United
states who are or shall be otherwise qualified bv In
to vote at any election by the people in any State
1erritory, district, county, city, parish, township
school district municipality or other territorial
division, shall be entitled and allowed to vote at
such electons without distinction of race color or
previous condition Of seryitude; any constitution
law, custom, usage, or regulation of any State or
territory or by or under Its authority to the con.
trary notwithstanding.
SIC. =, And be It further enacted. That if by or
under the authority Of the constitution or laws of
any STATE or the laws of any Territory any act ia or
shall DO required to be done O "a or
hcation for voting and by such constitution or laws
persons or ocers are or shall be charged with the
performance of duties IN furnishing to citizens an
opportunity to perform such prerequisite or TO be
come qualified to vote, it shall be the duty of every
such person and officer to give to all citizens of the
United States the same and equal opportunity to per
form such prerequisite and to become qualified to
so.e witnout distinction OF race color, previous
condition OF servitude and If any euch person or
oicer sha refuse or knowingly omit to give full ef
feet to thiss section he shall for every such offence
Forfeit and pay the sum Of five hundred dollars to
tne person aggreved thereby to be recovered by an
scon on the case with full costs and such allowance
Ior counsel ices as the court shall deem lust and
snail Also, Tor every such offence, be deemed of
misoemeanor, and shall, on conviction thereof be
nneo not less than five hundred dollars or be- i'm.
prisoned not less than one month and not more than
one year or both, at the discretion Of the court.
Gee o. And be 1t further enacted That vhenever
py or under the authority of the constitution or laws
OF any State or the laws of any Territory any act
OF ehali DC required to be done by any citizen as
prerequisite to qualify or entite him to vote the |
oner OF any citizen to perform the act required to
be done as aforesaid SHALL if 1t fail to be carried into
~ reason OF the wrongful act omission
duty OF receiving permitting such performance or
9ner TO perform or acting thereon, be deemed and
held as a performance in law of such act and the |
person offering and failing as aforesaid and bain,
otherwise qualified shall be entitled to vote in the
same manner and to the extent as IL he had in
TACT such act and any judge, Inspector
be to receive count, certify register report or give
enect 70 the vote of any such citizen who snail
wrongfully refuse omit to receive count certify
register report give effect to the vote of sucb cit
len upon the presentation by him Of his affidayit
stating such offer and place the es and the name OF
Inc omcsr or person whose duty Il was to act there
'uch person or officer from performing such act |
mall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum
nve hundred dollars to the person aggrieyed tbere
BY, to be recovered by an action on The case with
ui costs and such allowance for counsel fees as the
court shall deem just, and shall also for every such
conviction thereof, be fined not less than Ave hun
lred dollars, or be Imprisoned not less than one
Month and not moro than one year, or both, at the
discretion of the court
III
ny person, by force, bribery, threats, intimi-
ation, or other unlawful means, shall hin
or, DELAY. prevent or obstruct or shall
clay, prevent, or obstruct, any citizen from doing
ny act required to be done to qualify him to vote or
rom voting at any election as aforesaid such person
III Tor every such offence forfeit end pay the sum
nve hundred dollars to the person aggrieyed there.
y, TO be recovered by action on the case with
III costs and such allowance for counsel fees as the
,urt shall deem just and shall also for every such
1ence be guilty Of misdemeanor, and shall on con-
ction thereof, be fined not less than Eve hundred
'llars, or be imprisoned not less than one month
On of the court. 80
$50. s. And be 1t further enacted, That II any per
n shall prevent hinder, control, or intmidate. or
all attempt to prevent hinder, control. or intmi-
TO, any person from exercising in exercising the
yht Of suffrage, to whom the right of suffrage is
cured or guaranteed by the fifteenth amendment \
the Constitution OF the United States by means
bribery threats, or threats of depriying such per
n Of employme or occupation, or of ejectnr such
rson from rented house, lands, or other property.
by threats of refusing to leases contracts
labor, or by threats of violence to himself or
nily, such person so Offending shall be deemed
iity OF a misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction |
ereof De lined not less than five hundred dollars |
be imprisoned not less than ono month and not 4
ore than one year. or both, at the discretion of d
court. l-I71 : ',
SEC g. AND be 1t further enacted That the district
lrts OF the United States within their respectiye
tricts snali nave exclusively of the courts Uf the
ERA States, cognizance of all crimes and offences
nmitted against the provisions of This act and
o, concurrentiy with the circuit courts of the =
lted states OF sii causes civil and criminal, arts.
under this act, except herein otherwise pro
led and the Jurisdiction hereby conferred shall be
ercised In conformity with the laws and practice L
selnin9 United States courts and all crimes and w
snces committed agaipst the provisions this act il
Do prosecuted BY the Indictment of a grand
y, or. In cases OF crimes aud offences not Infamous
prosecution may be either by indictment or In. -
n alton nled by the district attorney in a court
ling j Jurisdiction. 4