ELECTIONS, Federal Control of. Under the Constitution the Federal government pos sesses a large measure of control over elections at which senators and representatives are chosen. Each State legislature possesses the power to prescribe the times, places and man ner of holding Congressional elections but Con gress is authorized to make entirely new regu lations or to add to, modify or alter such regu lations, save those relating to the choosing of senators (Art. I, Sec. IV, if 1). In 1842 Con gress provided that members of the House should be chosen by districts and this proce dure is still in vogue; an act passed in 1866 pre scribed the manner of choosing senators by the State legislatures. On 31 May 1870 Congress enacted a law providing that all persons other wise qualified should be granted the right to vote at all elections, irrespective of race, color or previous condition of servitude, this act being supplemented by another (28 Feb. 1871) relating particularly to the election of repre sentatives. This act stipulated that voting should be by ballot and also provided for the appointment by circuit judges on application of election inspectors in cities, the main object being to break up the prevailing corrupt prac tices. Federal courts subsequently declared un
constitutional some parts of this law and in 1894 the sections providing for Federal super vision were repealed. On 2 Feb. 1872 Congress definitely established the Tuesday following the first Monday in November (starting in 1876) as the date for Congressional elections but some exceptions to this rule were allowed under the amending act of 3 March 1875. Since that time (apart from the direct election of senators by constitutional amendment) the Federal gov ernment has concerned itself chiefly with legis lation pertaining to party activities, and pass ing acts relating to corporation contributions to campaign funds, publicity of campaign funds, corrupt practices acts, etc. See Comm PRAC TICES ACTS; ELECTORS; ELECTIONS, CONTESTED.