An Act to extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with respect to the discriminatory use of tests and devices
PL 91-285 (H.R.4249), enacted 06/22/1970

314 
June 19, 1970 
[H. R. 14306] 
Tobacco allot-
ments. 
Lease and 
transfer. 
75 Stat. 469; 
82 Stat. 996. 
7 u s e 1314b. 
Terms and con-
ditions. 
77 Stat. 81. 
Acreage allot-
ment, limitation. 
81 Stat. 121. 
Repeal. 
76 Stat. 151. 
Acreage pound-
age quotas. 
79 Stat. 66. 
7 u s e 1314c. 
7 u s e 1316. 
PUBLIC LAW 91-284-JUNE 19, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Public Law 91-284 
AN ACT 
To amend the tobacco marketing provisions of the Agricultural Adjustment Act 
of 1938, as amended. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Re'presentatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled^ That section 316(a) 
of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, as amended, is amended 
to read as follows: 
"(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary, if 
he determines that it will not impair the effective operation of the 
tobacco marketing quota or price support program, may permit the 
owner and operator of any farm for which a tobacco acreage allotment 
(other than a Burley, dark air-cured, fire-cured, Virginia sun-cured 
and cigar-binder, type 54 or 55 tobacco acreage allotment) is estab-
lished under this Act to lease all or any part of such allotment or quota 
to any other owmer or operator of a farm in the same county for use 
in such county on a farm having a current tobacco allotment or quota 
of the same kind." 
SEC. 2. Section 316(b) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, 
as amended, is amended to read as follows: 
" (b) Any lease may be made for such term of years not to exceed five 
as the parties thereto agree, and on such other terms and conditions, 
except as otherwise provided in this section, as the parties thereto 
agree." 
SEC. 3. Section 316(e) is amended by striking the period and insert-
ing in lieu thereof the following: ": Provided^ That in the case of 
cigar-filler tobacco types 42, 43, or 44, not more than 10 acres of allot-
ment may be leased and transferred to any farm." 
SEC. 4. Section 316(g) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, 
as amended, is hereby repealed. 
SEC. 5. Section 317(f) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, 
as amended, is amended by striking out in the parentheses in the fifth 
sentence the language "Burley tobacco, or other". 
SEC. 6. Section 703 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1966 (79 Stat. 
1210) is amended by striking out in the last sentence thereof the lan-
guage "except in the case of burley tobacco, and other kinds of tobacco 
not subject to section 316,". 
Approved June 19, 1970. 
June 22, 1970 
[H. R. 4249] 
Public Law 91-285 
AN ACT 
To extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with respect to the discriminatory use 
of tests, and for other purposes. 
Voting Rights 
Act Amendments 
of 1970. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That this Act may 
be cited as the "Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970". 
SEC. 2. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 437; 42 U.S.C. 
1973 et seq.) is amended by inserting therein, immediately after the 
first section thereof, the following title caption: 
84 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-285-JUNE 22, 1970 
315 
"TITLE I—VOTING RIGHTS"'. 
SEC. 3. Section 4(a) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 438; ^^"f^^f 'rohlbf 
42 U.S.C. 1973b) is amended by striking out the words "five years" tion?^^' ^'^° ' *'' 
wherever they appear in the first and third paragraphs thereof, and 
inserting in lieu thereof the words "ten years". 
SEC. 4. Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 438; 
42 U.S.C. 1973b) is amended by adding at the end of the first para-
graph thereof the following new sentence: "On and after August 6, 
1970, in addition to any State or political subdivision of a State 
determined to be subject to subsection (a) pursuant to the previous 
sentence, the provisions of subsection (a) shall apply in any State or 
any political subdivision of a State which (i) the Attorney General 
determines maintained on November 1, 1968, any test or device, and 
with respect to which (ii) the Director of the Census determines that 
less than 50 per centum of the persons of voting age residing therein 
were registered on November 1, 1968, or that less than 50 per centum 
of such persons voted in the presidential election of November 1968." 
SEC. 5. Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 439; 
42 U.S.C. 1973c) is amended by (1) inserting after "section 4(a)" 
the following: "based upon determinations made under the first sen-
tence of section 4(b)", and (2) inserting after "1964," the following: 
"or whenever a State or political subdivision with respect to which 
the prohibitions set forth in section 4(a) based upon determinations 
made under the second sentence of section 4(b) are in effect shall enact 
or seek to administer any voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, 
or standard, practice, or procedure with respect to voting different 
from that in force or effect on November 1, 1968,". 
SEC. 6. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (79 Stat. 437; 42 U.S.C. 
1973 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following 
new titles: 
"TITLE II—SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS 
"APPLICATION or PROHIBITION TO OTHER STAn.S 
"SEC. 201. (a) Prior to August 6, 1975, no citizen shall be denied, 
because of his failure to comply with any test or device, the right 
to vote in any Federal, State, or local election conducted in any State 
or political subdivision of a State as to which the provisions of section 
4(a) of this Act are not in effect by reason of determinations made 
^"P*"^-
under section 4(b) of this Act. 
"(b) As used in this section, the term 'test or device' means any vicZ^'^* °'^'^^' 
requirement that a person as a prerequisite for voting or registration 
fcr voting (1) demonstrate the ability to read, write, understand, or 
interpret any matter, (2) demonstrate any educational achievement 
or his knowledge of any particular subject, (3) possess good moral 
character, or (4) prove his qualifications by the voucher of registered 
voters or members of any other class. 
316 
PUBLIC LAW 91-285-JUNE 22, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
u s e prec. 
title 1. 
Durational res-
idency require-
ment, abolishment. 
Absentee regis-
stration and bal-
loting standards, 
establishment. 
Registration. 
"RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING 
"SEC. 202. (a) The Congress hereby finds that the imposition and 
application of the durational residency requirement as a precondition 
to voting for the offices of President and Vice President, and the lack 
of sufficient opportunities for absentee registration and absentee bal-
loting in presidential elections— 
"(1) denies or abridges the inherent constitutional right of 
citizens to vote for their President and Vice President; 
"(2) denies or abridges the inherent constitutional right of 
citizens to enjoy their free movement across State lines; 
"(3) denies or abridges the privileges and immunities guar-
anteed to the citizens of each State under article IV, section 2, 
clause 1, of the Constitution; 
"(4) in some instances has the impermissible purpose or effect 
of denying citizens the right to vote for such officers because of the 
way they may vote; 
"(5) has the effect of denying to citizens the equality of civil 
rights, and due process and equal protection of the laws that are 
guaranteed to them under the fourteenth amendment; and 
"(6) does not bear a reasonable relationship to any compelling 
State interest in the conduct of presidential elections. 
"(b) Upon the basis of these findings. Congress declares that in 
order to secure and protect the above-stated rights of citizens under 
the Constitution, to enable citizens to better obtain the enjoyment of 
such rights, and to enforce the guarantees of the fourteenth amend-
ment, it is necessary (1) to completely abolish the durational residency 
requirement as a precondition to voting for President and Vice Presi-
dent, and (2) to establish nationwide, uniform standards relative to 
absentee registration and absentee balloting in presidential elections. 
"(c) No citizen of the United States who is otherwise qualified 
to vote in any election for President and Vice President shall be denied 
the right to vote for electors for President and Vice President, or 
for President and Vice President, in such election because of the 
failure of such citizen to comply with any durational residency 
requirement of such State or political subdivision; nor sliaH any 
citizen of the United States be denied the right to vote for electors 
for President and Vice President, or for President and Vice President, 
in such election because of the failure of such citizen to be physically 
present in such State or political subdivision at the time of such 
election, if such citizen shall have complied with the requirements 
prescribed by the law of such State or political subdivision providing 
for the casting of absentee ballots in such election. 
"(d) For the purposes of this section, each State shall provide 
by law for the registration or other means of qualification of all duly 
aualified residents of such State who apply, not later than thirty 
days immediately prior to any presidential election, for registration 
or qualification to vote for the choice of electors for President and 
Vice President or for President and Vice President in such election; 
and each State shall provide by law for the casting of absentee 
ballots for the choice of electors for President and Vice President, 
or for President and Vice President, by all duly qualified residents 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-285-JUNE 22, 1970 
317 
of such State who may be absent from their election district or unit 
in such State on the day such election is held and who have applied 
therefor not later than seven days immediately prior to such election 
and have returned such ballots to the appropriate election official of 
such State not later than the time of closing of the polls in such 
State on the day of such election. 
"(e) If any citizen of the United States who is otherwise qualified 
to vote in any State or political subdivision in any election for Presi-
dent and Vice President has begun residence in such State or political 
subdivision after the thirtieth day next preceding such election and, 
for that reason, does not satisfy the registration requirements of such 
State or political subdivision he shall be allowed to vote for the choice 
of electors for President and Vice President, or for President and Vice 
President, in such election, (1) in person in the State or political sub-
division in which he resided immediately prior to his removal if he 
had satisfied, as of the date of his change of residence, the require-
ments to vote in that State or political subdivision, or (2) by absentee 
ballot in the State or political subdivision in which he resided im-
mediately prior to his removal if he satisfies, but for his nonresident 
status and the reason for his absence, the requirements for absentee 
voting in that State or political subdivision. 
"(f) No citizen of the United States who is otherwise qualified to 
vote by absentee ballot in an^ State or political subdivision in any 
election for President and Vice President shall be denied the right 
to vote for the choice of electors for President and Vice President, 
or for President and Vice President, in such election because of any 
requirement of registration that does not include a provision for 
absentee registration. 
-" 
" (^) Nothing in this section shall prevent any State or political sub-
division from adopting less restrictive voting practices than those that 
are prescribed herein. 
"(h) The term 'State' as used in this section includes each of the 
"state," 
several States and the District of Columbia. 
" (i) The provisions of section 11 (c) shall apply to false registration, ,. ^^i«« registra-
_ • ' , 
K 
^ 1 
T
^
'
. 
, '^ ^ '' 
, 
T ^ i 
, . ' tion, penalty* 
and other fraudulent acts and conspiracies, committed under this 
79 stat. 443. 
section. 
^2 use 19731. 
(( 
JUDICIAL RELIEF 
"SEC. 203. Whenever the Attorney General has reason to believe 
that a State or political subdivision (a) has enacted or is seeking 
to administer any test or device as a prerequisite to voting in violation 
of the prohibition contained in section 201, or (b) undertakes to deny 
the right to vote in any election in violation of section 202, he may 
institute for the United States, or in the name of the United States, an 
action in a district court of the United States, in accordance with 
sections 1391 through 1393 of title 28, United States Code, for a 
^2 stat. 935. 
restraining order, a preliminary or permanent injunction, or such 
other order as he deems appropriate. An action under this sub-
section shall be heard and determined by a court of three judges 
in accordance with the provisions of section 2282 of title 28 of the 
United States Code and any appeal shall be to the Supreme Court. 
^^ stat. 968. 
"PENALTY 
"SEC. 204. Whoever shall deprive or attempt to deprive any person 
of any right secured by section 201 or 202 of this title shall be fined 
not more than $6,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. 
m 
PUBLIC LAW 91-285-JUNE 22, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
SEPARABILITY 
"SEC. 205. If any provision of this Act or the application of any 
provision thereof to any person or circumstance is judicially deter-
mined to be invalid, the remainder of this Act or the application of 
such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected 
by such determination. 
"TITLE III—REDUCING VOTING AGE TO E I G H T E E N IN 
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ELECTIONS 
use prec. 
title 1. 
Denial of right 
to vote, prohibi-
tion. 
Jurisdiction. 
62 Stat. 968. 
Penalty. 
'DECLARATION AND FINDINGS 
"SEC. 301. (a) The Congress finds and declares that the imposition 
and application of the requirement that a citizen be twenty-one years 
of age as a precondition to voting in any primary or in any election— 
"(1) denies and abridges the inherent constitutional rights of 
citizens eighteen years of age but not yet twenty-one years of age 
to vote—a particularly unfair treatment of such citizens in view 
of the national defense responsibilities imposed upon such citizens; 
"(2) has the effect of denying to citizens eighteen years of age 
but not yet twenty-one years of age the due process and equal 
protection of the laws that ^ are guaranteed to them under the 
fourteenth amendment of the Constitution; and 
"(3) does not bear a reasonable relationship to any compelling 
State interest. 
"(b) In order to secure the constitutional rights set forth in sub-
section (a), the Congi^ess declares that it is necessary to prohibit the 
denial of the right to vote to citizens of the United States eighteen 
years of age or over. 
"PROHIBITION 
"SEC. 302. Except as required by the Constitution, no citizen of the 
United States who is otherwise qualified to vote in any State or 
political subdivision in any primary or in any election shall be denied 
the right to vote in any such primary or election on account of age if 
such citizen is eighteen years of age or older. 
a ENFORCEMENT 
"SEC. 303. (a)(1) In the exercise of the powers of the Congress under 
the necessary and proper clause of section 8, article I of the Con-
stitution, and section 5 of the fourteenth amendment of the Constitu-
tion, the Attorney General is authorized and directed to institute in 
the name of the United States such actions against States or political 
subdivisions, including actions for injunctive relief, as he may deter-
mine to be necessary to implement the purposes of this title. 
"(2) The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction 
of proceedings instituted pursuant to this title, which shall be heard 
and determined by a court of three judges in accordance with the 
provisions of section 2284 of title 28 of the United States Code, 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 and 
determination thereof, and to cause the case to be in every way 
expedited. 
"(b) Whoever shall deny or attempt to deny any person of any right 
secured by this title shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned 
not more than five years, or both. » '- '"•>«^-- - t 
84 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-286-JUNE 23, 1970 
319 
"DEFINITION 
"SEC. 304. As used in this title the term 'State' includes the District 
"State." 
of Columbia. 
"DEFECTIVE DATE 
"SEC. 305. The provisions of title I I I shall take effect with respect 
to any primary or election held on or after January 1,1971.'' 
Approved June 22, 1970. 
Public Law 91-286 
AN ACT 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate, and maintain 
tlie East Greenacres unit, Rathdrum Prairie project, Idaho, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress a^semhled^ That, for the pur-
poses of providing irrigation water supplies, providing municipal and 
industrial water, the conservation and enhancement of fish and wild-
life resources, and the enhancement of recreation opportunities, the 
Secretary of the Interior, acting pursuant to the Federal reclamation 
laws (Act of June 17,1902; 32 Stat. 388, and Acts amendatory thereof 
or supplementary thereto), is authorized to construct, operate, and 
maintain the East Greenacres unit, Rathdrum Prairie project, Idaho. 
The principal works of the unit shall consist of wells, regulating reser-
voirs, the necessary water distribution systems, and related works. 
SEC. 2. (a) Irrigation repayment contracts shall provide for repay-
ment of the irrigation construction costs assigned to the irrigators for 
repayment over a period of not more than fifty years, exclusive of any 
development period authorized by law. Construction costs allocated 
to irrigation beyond the ability of irrigators to repay shall be charged 
to and returned to the reclamation fund in accordance with the pro-
visions of section 2 of the Act of June 14, 1966 (80 Stat. 200), as 
amended by section 6 of the Act of September 7,1966 (80 Stat. 707), 
and from surplus municipal and industrial water revenues as provided 
by subsection 2(b) of this Act. 
(b) Municipal and industrial repayment contracts shall provide for 
repayment of the construction costs allocated to municipal and indus-
trial water supply, with interest, by the municipal and industrial water 
users over a period of not more than fifty years from the date that 
water is first delivered for that purpose, pursuant to contracts with 
municipal corporations, organizations, or other entities as defined in 
section 2(g) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (53 Stat. 1187) : 
Provided,, That contracts for municipal and industrial water service 
shall provide that annual payments shall continue at the same rates as 
long as the irrigation repayment contracts are in effect: 
Provided 
further^ That revenues in excess of those required to repay the allocated 
municipal and industrial water supply costs with interest and the por-
tion of the annual operation, maintenance, and replacement costs allo-
cated to municipal and industrial water supply shall be returned to 
the reclamation fund and credited toward the repayment of the con-
struction costs allocated to irrigation which are beyond the ability of 
the irrigators to repay. Such contracts may be entered into with a 
June 23, 1970 
[H. R. 9854] 
East Greenacres 
unit, Rathdrum 
Prairie project, 
Idaho. 
Authorization. 
43 u s e 371 and 
note. 
16 use 835h-
8 35m. 
43 use 485a.