# 48 U.S.C. § 1542: Voting franchise; discrimination prohibited

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1542

## Section

- **Citation:** 48 U.S.C. § 1542
- **Heading:** Voting franchise; discrimination prohibited
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** April 17, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 48—TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS > CHAPTER 12—VIRGIN ISLANDS [1954] > SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

## Text

The franchise shall be vested in residents of the Virgin Islands who are citizens of the United States, twenty-one years of age or over. Additional qualifications may be prescribed by the legislature: Provided, however , That no property, language, or income qualification shall ever be imposed upon or required of any voter, nor shall any discrimination in qualification be made or based upon difference in race, color, sex, or religious belief.

( July 22, 1954, ch. 558, § 4 , 68 Stat. 498 ; Pub. L. 91–460 , Oct. 16, 1970 , 84 Stat. 978 .)

## Nearby sections

- [48 U.S.C. § 1541 Organization and status](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1541.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1542 Voting franchise; discrimination prohibited](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1542.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1543 United States citizenship requirement for government officials](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1543.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1544 Reports by Governor; jurisdiction of Secretary of the Interior; exceptions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1544.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1545 Lease and sale of public property; conveyance of title in certain lands to the government of Virgin Islands](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1545.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1546 Authorization of appropriations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1546.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1561 Rights and prohibitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1561.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1571 Legislature](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1571.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1572 Legislators](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1572.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1573 Time, frequency, and duration of regular sessions; special sessions; place of holding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1573.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1574 Legislative powers and activities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1574.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1574–1 Applicability of laws referred to in section 502(a)(1) of Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1574%E2%80%931.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1574a Revenue bonds or other obligations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1574a.md)
- [48 U.S.C. § 1574b Federal guarantee for issuance of revenue bonds or other obligations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1574b.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t48_s1542. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.