Enforcement of the 26th Amendment

Title III of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 303. Private right of action; standard of review; fees (a) Private right of action Any person eighteen years of age and older who is aggrieved by a denial or abridgment of the right of a citizen of the United States to vote on account of age may commence a civil action in any appropriate district court of the United States for relief. (b) Standard of review A denial or abridgment of the right of a citizen of the United States to vote on account of age shall be established in a private right of action under subsection (a) if a qualification or prerequisite to voting or standard, practice, or procedure— (1) has the effect of denying or abridging to citizens eighteen years of age and older the due process or equal protection of the laws that are guaranteed to them under the 14th and 26th Amendments of the Constitution of the United States; and (2) is not necessary to advance any compelling interest of a State or political subdivision. (c) Fees and costs The court, in an action under this section, shall allow the plaintiff, if the prevailing party, to recover from the defendant reasonable attorneys’ and expert witness fees, and other costs of the action..