Speech #910048299

This proposed act would be known as the "Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1969." Experience during the last four years with the 1965 Act has shown that denial and abridgment of the right to vote as guaranteed by the Fifteenth Amendment are not limited to any geographical section of the nation. to any group. or to any category of community. The 1965 Act has worked well in the areas within its jurisdiction. it is now time to make the statute effective nationwide. Accordingly. the bill transmitted herewith extends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by prohibiting any State from utilizing a literacy test or any similar test or device at any time until January 1. 1974. At the same time. the measure maintains and extends to all States the authority of the United States to designate examiners when necessary to enforce the guarantees of the Fifteenth Amendment. and strengthen the authority of the Attorney General to arrange for observers to assist in the enforcement of these constitutional guarantees. Provision is also made for the Attorney General to have nationwide authority to initiate voting rights law suits and to request court orders freezing discriminatory voting laws and practices. CXV- 1115Part 13 The bill also creates a Presidential Commission to study the effects of literacy tests and other restrictive activities upon the use of the franchise. and the impact of fraud or mission would make recommendations to the corrupt practices on voting rights. This Commission would make recommendations to the President and Congress by January 15. 1973. Another major section of the bill provides that a citizen otherwise qualified to vote under the laws of a State cannot be denied his right to vote for President and Vice President in that State If he has resided in the State since September 1st next preceding the election.