Dulaney-Browne Library: Election Law: Statutes & Regulations

Important Statutes

For more information on statutory research, please see the Statutory Research--Federal and State Libguide.

Voting Rights Act of 1965
Amended in 1970, 1975, 1982, and 2006.
Codified at 42 U.S.C. 1973 to 1973aa-6
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
Pub. L. 92-225 / 86 Stat. 3 / Codified at 2 U.S.C. 431 et seq.
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
BCRA 2002 amended Federal Campaign Act of 1971.
Help America Vote Act of 2002
Pub. L. No. 107-252, 116 Stat. 1666 (2002),
Codified at 42 U.S.C. §§ 15301 to 15545
National Voter Registration Act of 1993
Pub. L. 103-31 / 107 Stat. 77
Codified at 42 U.S.C. 1973gg
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
Pub. L. 99-410 / 100 Stat. 924
Codified at 42 U.S.C. 1973ff

Legislative History

For more information on legislative history research, please see the Federal Legislative History Libguide.

Voting Rights Act of 1965
Legislative History of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 compiled by HeinOnline.
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
Legislative history of FECA 1971 compiled by HeinOnline
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Legislative history of BCRA 2002 compiled by HeinOnline
Help America Vote Act of 2002
Search ProQuest Congressional for documents that will make up the Legislative History
National Voter Registration Act of 1993
Search ProQuest Congressional for documents that will make up the Legislative History
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act
Search ProQuest Congressional for documents that will make up the Legislative History

United States Constitution

Many provisions of the Constitution address federal election. Each of the provisions below will take the researcher to the United States Senate website showing the text of the provision (left-hand column) and commentary about the meaning of the original text and how it has changed since 1789 (right-hand column).

United States Code

2 U.S.C. Chapter 1
Election of Senators and Representatives
2 U.S.C. Chapter 12
Contested Elections
2 U.S.C. Chapter 14
Federal Election Campaigns
3 U.S.C. Chapter 1
Presidential Elections and Vacancies
42 U.S.C. Chapter 20
Elective Franchise
Federal Campaign Finance Laws
A compilation of the laws governing the financing of federal elections, including provisions administered by other government agencies. Those provisions include:

-Sections of the tax code administered by the Internal Revenue Service that govern tax-exempt 501(c) groups and so-called 527 organizations (additional provisions of 26 U.S.C. also apply)

-Laws administered by the Federal Communications Commission that govern broadcast communications

-Criminal provisions administered by the Department of Justice that relate to elections and political activity.

The Code of Federal Regulations

11 C.F.R
Title 11 of CFR addresses Federal Election regulations.

Congress has delegated campaign finance regulatory authority to the Federal Election Commission.

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) delegated to the Election Assistance Commission the authority to develop guidelines to meet HAVA requirements and to adopt voluntary voting system guidelines.

Presidential Election

The Electoral College website has Constitutional provisions and U.S.C. sections pertaining to the Presidential Election.

Senatorial Election

Published by the United States Senate, Senate Election Law Guidebook is a compilation of constitutional and federal statutory provisions related to Senatorial election.

Election Law: Statutes & Regulations