The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-18
THE RNFoaoEMENT 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.

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.
| Ia IL enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
seniatives of the United States OF America in Con.
| gfess assembled, That all citizens of the United
States who are shall be otherwise qualined by law
to at aty election by the people in ans State
Territory district, county, city, parish, township
school district Municipality other territorial sub
division shall be entitled aud allowed to vote at all
such elections without distinction Of race, color or
previous condition Of servitude; any constitution,
law, custom, usage, OF regulation OF aoy State or
Territory by under its authority, to the con-
| trary Notwithstanding.
under the authority of the constitution laws of
State, the laws OF any Territory any act Is or
shall be required to be done prerequsi or quail
icaton for voting and by such constitution or laws
persons or officers shall be charged with the
perform 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 and equal opportunity to per-
form such prerequisite, and to become qualified to
vote without distinction of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude and If 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 aggrieved thereby to be recovered by an
action on the case with full costs and such allowance
for counsel fees as tho court shall deem just and
shall also for every such offence, be deemed of q
msdemeanor, and shall, on conviction thereof be
fined not less than i've 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
SEQ 3. And be it further enacted That whenever
by or under the authority Of the constitution or laws
OF any State or the laws OF auy Territory any act
is or shall be required be done by any citizen as
prerequisite to qualify or enntle him TO vote. the
offer of any citizen to perform the act required to
be done aforesaid shall If 1t fail to he carried into
execution by OF the wrongful act or omission
aforesaid of the person officer charged with the
duty of receiving permitting such performance or
offer to perform or actipg thereon be deemed and
held as a performance in law of such act; and the
person offering and falling as aforesaid, and beiug
otherwis qualified, shall he 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
other officer of election whose duty It is or Shalt
be receive count certify, register report, or give
effect to the vote of any such citizen who snail
register report give effect to the vote OF such cit
izen upon the presentation by him of his affidavit
stating such offer and place the ee and the name OF
the officer person whose duty 1t to act there
on, and that he was wronguly prevented by |
such person officer from performing such act, |
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum
five hundred dollars to the person sgg ieved there
by, to be recovered by action on the CASE wifh
full costs and such allowance for counsel fees as the
court shall deem just, and shall also for every such
offence be guilty of q misdeneanor, and shall, on /
conviction thereof, be fined not less than hve hun
bred dollars be imp isoned not less than one /
month and not more than one year, or both, at the
SEC A. And be 1t flu Their enacted, That If /
any person. by force, bribery, threats, intimf- /
dation or other unlawful means, shall hin.
der, delay prevent, or obstruct, or shall |
combine and confederate with others to hinder,
delay, prevent oostruct, any citizen from doing
any required be done to qualify him to vote or
from voting any election aforesaid such person
sh al for every such offence forfeit and pay the sum
five hundred dollars TO the person aggrieved there
by, to be recovered by action on The case, with
full costs and such allowance II counsel fees the
court shall deem just and shall also for every such
offence be guilty of msdemeanor, and SHALL on con-
victon thereof, be fined not less than five hundred
dollars, or be imprisoned not less than one month
aud not than one year, or botn, at the usere-
ton of the court.
sEo s. nd bs it further enacted, That II any per
son shall prevent, hinder, control, or ntimdate or
shall attempt to prevent, hnd~r, control or tntin-
dae any prrson from cisng in exercising the
right OF suffrage to whom the right OF Suffrage Is
secured or guaranteed by the fifteenth amendment
of bribery threats or threats of deprivng such per
Of employ ment occupation or ofejecting such
person from rented house lands or other property.
by threats of refusing to leases or contracts
for labor or by threats Of violence to himself or
family, such person offending shall be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor and shall, on conviction
thereof be fined not less than five hundred DOLLARS
or be imprisoned not less than one month and not
more than one year, or both, at the discretion OF
tho court.
SEC g. And be it further enacted That the district
courts of the United States, within their respective
shall have, exclusively of the courts Of the
several States cognizance of all crimes and offences
against the provisions of this act and
also, concurrently with the circuit courts OF the
United States of all causes civil and criminal ars-
ing under this act, except herein otherwise pro
vided and the Jurisdiction hereby conferred shall be
exercised in conformity with the laws and practice
United States courts and all crimes and
ofences committed against provisions of this act
may be prosecuted by the indictment OF grand
jury or. In of crimes and offences not infamous
the prosecution may be either by indictment or in
+ rm .ton filed by the district attorney in q court
having Jurisdiction.