The Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division has enforcement responsibility for certain civil provisions of federal laws that protect the right to vote. This includes provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 52 U.S.C. §§ 10301 to 10702; Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984, 52 U.S.C. §§ 20101 to 20107; Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986, 52 U.S.C. §§ 20301 to 20311; National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 52 U.S.C. §§ 20501 to 20511; Help America Vote Act of 2002, 52 U.S.C. §§ 21081 to 21085, 21111; and the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960, 52 U.S.C. §§ 10101, 20701 to 20706.

When a United States Attorney’s Office receives a complaint or other information regarding the possibility of infringements of the right to vote, that office should forward the complaint or other information to the Voting Section as soon as practicable. The Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division retains final authority to determine whether a civil rights investigation should be opened; a complaint should be filed; or, in most instances (see JM 8-2.100 and 28 C.F.R. §§ 0.160 to 0.164), a case should be settled, and on what terms. The Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division may delegate this authority to subordinate Civil Rights Division officials and United States Attorneys, where appropriate. The United States Attorney’s Office and the Voting Section may work together, as appropriate, on these investigations and any resulting litigation. Division of responsibilities is determined on a case-by-case basis.

[updated December 2022]