Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 69.djvu/626

 PUBLIC LAW 296-AUG. 9, 1955

584

The Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955.

ST AT.

CHAPTER 656

Public Law 296 August 9, 1955 [H.R. 4048]

[69

AN ACT Making recommendations to the States for the enactment of legislation to permit and assist Federal personnel, including members of the Armed Forces, and their families, to exercise their voting franchise, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as "The Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955". TITLE I R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S OF THE CONGRESS TO THE SEVERAL STATES

Absentee ballot.

63 Stat. 9 5 4. 5 USC 1071 note.

Procedures.

SEC. 101. The Congress hereby expresses itself as favoring, and recommends that the several States take, immediate legislative or administrative action to enable every person in any of the following categories who is absent from the place of his voting residence to vote by absentee ballot in any primary, special, or general election held in his election district or precinct, if he is otherwise eligible to vote in that election: (1) Members of the Armed Forces while in the active service, and their spouses and dependents. (2) Members of the merchant marine of the United States, and their spouses and dependents. (3) Civilian employees of the United States in all categories serving outside the territorial limits of the several States of the United States and the I^istrict of Columbia and their spouses and dependents when residing with or accompanying them, whether or not the employee is subject to the civil-service laws and the Classification Act of 1949, and whether or not paid from funds appropriated by the Congress. (4) Members of religious groups or welfare agencies assisting members of the Armed Forces, who are officially attached to and serving with the Armed Forces, and their spouses and dependents. SEC. 102. To afford ample opportunity for persons covered by section 101 of this Act tp vote for Federal, State, and local officials and to use the absentee balloting procedures to the greatest extent possible, it is recommended that each of the several States— (1) accept as applications for absentee ballots under such States' absentee balloting laws, as applications for registration under such States' election laws, and as sources of information to implement State absentee balloting laws, the form of post card (when duly executed by a person covered by section 101 of this Act) provided pursuant to this Act; (2) waive registration of persons covered by section 101 of this Act, who, by reason of their service, have been deprived of an opportunity to register; (3) accept the post card application provided pursuant to this Act as a simultaneous application for registration and for ballot; (4) if a special application is required for registration by mail, provide that the necessary forms will be sent with the absentee ballot and may be returned with it; (5) make provision for persons eligible to register and qualified to vote, who have been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces, or have terminated their service or employment, too late to register at the time when, and at the place where, registration is required, to vote at the election next ensuing after such discharge or termination.

�