Voter Registration Act

(LATEST SUMMARY)

Voter Registration Act - Establishes within the Bureau of the Census the Voter Registration Administration. Provides that the President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an Administrator and two Associate Administrators for terms of four years each. Sets forth the duties and powers of the Administration.

Authorizes the Administration to establish and administer a Voter Registration Program in accordance with this Act for all Federal elections.

Provides that an individual who fulfills the requirements to be a qualified voter under State law and who is registered to vote under the provisions of this Act shall be entitled to vote in Federal elections in that State, except that each State shall provide for the registration or other means of qualification of all residents not later than 30 days prior to any Federal election.

Directs the Administration to prepare voter registration forms in accordance with the provisions of this Act. Authorizes the Administration to enter into agreements with the postal service, with departments and agencies of the Federal Government, and with State officials for the distribution of registration forms.

Requires the Administration to assist State officials in detecting fraudulent voter registration, when such assistance is requested by the State. Provides that the district courts of the United States or the United States District Court of the District of Columbia shall have jurisdiction, without regard to any amount in controversy, of proceedings instituted pursuant to this Act.

Provides that whoever knowingly or willfully gives false information as to his name, address, residence, age, or other information for the purposes of establishing his eligibility to register or vote under this chapter, or conspires with another individual for the purpose of encouraging his false registration to vote or illegal voting, or pays or offers to pay or accepts or offers to accept payment either for registration to vote or for voting shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

States that any person who deprives, or attempts to deprive, any other person of any right under this chapter shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Authorizes the Administration to pay to each appropriate State the reasonable cost of processing registration forms prescribed under this Act.