Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 1.djvu/173

 PUBLIC LAW 97-205—JUNE 29, 1982 Public Law 97-205 97th Congress

96 STAT. 131

An Act

To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to extend the effect of certain provisions, 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 "Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982". SEC. 2. (a) Subsection (a) of section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is amended by striking out "seventeen years" each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof "nineteen years". (b) Effective on and after August 5, 1984, subsection (a) of section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is amended— (1) by inserting "(1)" after "(a)"; (2) by inserting "or in any political subdivision of such State (as such subdivision existed on the date such determinations were made with respect to such State), though such determinations were not made with respect to such subdivision as a separate unit," before "or in any political subdivision with respect to which" each place it appears; (3) by striking out "in an action for a declaratory judgment" the first place it appears and all that follows through "color through the use of such tests or devices have occurred anywhere in the territory of such plaintiff.", and inserting in lieu thereof "issues a declaratory judgment under this section."; (4) by striking out "in an action for a declaratory judgment" the second place it appears and all that follows through "section 4(f)(2) through the use of tests or devices have occurred anywhere in the territory of such plaintiff.", and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "issues a declaratory judgment under this section. A declaratory judgment under this section shall issue only if such court determines that during the ten years preceding the filing of the action, and during the pendency of such action— "(A) no such test or device has been used within such State or political subdivision for the purpose or with the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or color or (in the case of a State or subdivision seeking a declaratory judgment under the second sentence of this subsection) in contravention of the guarantees of subsection (f)(2); "(B) no final judgment of any court of the United States, other than the denial of declaratory judgment under this section, has determined that denials or abridgements of the right to vote on account of race or color have occurred anywhere in the territory of such State or political subdivision or (in the case of a State or subdivision seeking a declaratory judgment under the second sentence of this subsection) that denials or abridgements of the right to vote in contravention of the guarantees of subsection (f)(2) have occurred anywhere in the territory of such State or subdivision and no consent decree, settlement, or agreement has

June 29, 1982 [H.R. 3112]

Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982. 42 USC 1971 note, 1973 note. 42 USC 1973b.

Declaratory judgment proceedings.

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