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compliance

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Oregon v. Mitchell, 400 U.S. 112, 91 S.Ct. 260, 27 L.Ed.2d 272

Facts

Certain States resisted compliance with the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970, arguing that the Act infringed upon their constitutional powers to control elections. The Act aimed to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 in both state and federal elections, eliminate literacy tests, and prevent states from imposing residency requirements for national elections. The case arose from these amendments, leading to a legal challenge regarding their constitutionality.

In these suits certain States resist compliance with the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970, Pub.L. 91—285, 84 Stat. 314, because they believe that the Act takes away from them powers reserved to the States by the Constitution to control their own elections.

Issue

Did Congress have the constitutional authority to lower the voting age to 18 for state and local elections, and to impose restrictions on literacy tests and residency requirements in elections?

Did Congress have the constitutional authority to lower the voting age to 18 for state and local elections, and to impose restrictions on literacy tests and residency requirements in elections?

Rule

The Court held that Congress has the power to regulate federal elections, including setting the voting age and prohibiting discriminatory practices like literacy tests, but does not have the authority to set voting qualifications for state and local elections.

The Court held that Congress has the power to regulate federal elections, including setting the voting age and prohibiting discriminatory practices like literacy tests, but does not have the authority to set voting qualifications for state and local elections.

Analysis

The Court applied the Necessary and Proper Clause and the enforcement powers granted by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to uphold the provisions of the Voting Rights Act that pertained to federal elections. However, it found that the Constitution reserves the power to regulate state elections to the states themselves, thus invalidating the amendments that sought to lower the voting age in those elections.

The Court applied the Necessary and Proper Clause and the enforcement powers granted by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to uphold the provisions of the Voting Rights Act that pertained to federal elections. However, it found that the Constitution reserves the power to regulate state elections to the states themselves, thus invalidating the amendments that sought to lower the voting age in those elections.

Conclusion

The Court concluded that the provisions of the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970 lowering the voting age to 18 were constitutional for federal elections but unconstitutional for state and local elections.

The Court concluded that the provisions of the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970 lowering the voting age to 18 were constitutional for federal elections but unconstitutional for state and local elections.

Who won?

The United States government prevailed in part, as the Court upheld the amendments regarding federal elections, affirming Congress's authority to regulate voting in those contexts.

The United States government prevailed in part, as the Court upheld the amendments regarding federal elections, affirming Congress's authority to regulate voting in those contexts.

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