§ 1542. Voting franchise; discrimination prohibited

Statutory text

The franchise shall be vested in residents of the Virgin Islands who are citizens of the United States, twenty-one years of age or over. Additional qualifications may be prescribed by the legislature: Provided, however, That no property, language, or income qualification shall ever be imposed upon or required of any voter, nor shall any discrimination in qualification be made or based upon difference in race, color, sex, or religious belief.

The legislature shall have authority to enact legislation establishing the voting age for residents of the Virgin Islands at an age not lower than eighteen years of age, if a majority of the qualified voters in the Virgin Islands approve in a referendum election held for that purpose.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1954
Pub. L. 83–558 § 4 · 68 Stat. 587
Enacted · 48 U.S.C. § 1542
July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 4, 68 Stat. 498
Source evidence
Code source credit
July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 4, 68 Stat. 498
Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 4. quorum Five members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.
1970
Pub. L. 91–460 · 84 Stat. 978
1. Amended · 48 U.S.C. § 1542
  Pub. L. 91–460 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a)
2. Added · 48 U.S.C. § 1542
  Pub. L. 91–460 added subsec. (b)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 91–460 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

1 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 2 partial

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1970—Pub. L. 91–460 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Credits

1954–1970 · 2 acts

1954July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 4, 68 Stat. 498
1970Pub. L. 91–460, Oct. 16, 1970, 84 Stat. 978.

Show as published

(July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 4, 68 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 91–460, Oct. 16, 1970, 84 Stat. 978.)