Clarification of authority to seek relief

(a) Poll tax Section 10(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10306(b)) is amended by striking the Attorney General is authorized and directed to institute forthwith in the name of the United States such actions and inserting an aggrieved person or (in the name of the United States) the Attorney General may institute such actions. (b) Cause of action Section 12(d) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10308(d)) is amended— (1) by striking Whenever any person has engaged and all that follows through in the name of the United States and inserting (1) Whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe that any person has implemented or will implement any voting qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure that would (A) deny any citizen the right to vote in violation of the 14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, or 26th Amendments, or (B) would violate this Act (except for section 4A) or any other Federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group in the voting process, an aggrieved person or (in the name of the United States) the Attorney General may institute; and (2) by striking, and including an order directed to the State and State or local election officials to require them (1) to permit persons listed under chapters 103 to 107 of this title to vote and (2) to count such votes. (c) Judicial relief Section 204 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10504) is amended by striking Whenever the Attorney General has reason to believe and all that follows through as he deems appropriate and inserting Whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe that a State or political subdivision has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice prohibited by a provision of title II, an aggrieved person or (in the name of the United States) the Attorney General may institute an action in a district court of the United States, for a restraining order, a preliminary or permanent injunction, or such other order as may be appropriate. (d) Enforcement of twenty-Sixth Amendment Section 301(a)(1) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10701) is amended by striking The Attorney General is directed to institute and all that follows through Constitution of the United States and inserting An aggrieved person or (in the name of the United States) the Attorney General may institute an action in a district court of the United States, for a restraining order, a preliminary or permanent injunction, or such other order as may be appropriate to implement the twenty-sixth amendment to the Constitution of the United States.