republic-os/legal/us/code/title-02/chapter-12/section-381.md

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LegalText	2 U.S.C. § 381	Definitions	us	united_states_code	code_section	2	THE CONGRESS	12	CONTESTED ELECTIONS	381	2 U.S.C. § 381	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc02@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t2/s381	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-02/usc02.xml	3f48ffb308857b676d11be9597279d2ff3fd84b1eeeef28d3ea815b9d7b55ab6	ec6910a011de0a97d11b263bbcd649766188311e429ae6bdb5fc2cf5e6ebbb9e	02e6435399ede954bfedfb37a5547c2ea3e73cb0a8be4d7eebd8d045f3216825	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

2 U.S.C. § 381 - Definitions

Text

For purposes of this chapter:

(1) The term “election” means an official general or special election to choose a Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, but that term does not include a primary election, or a caucus or convention of a political party.

(2) The term “candidate” means an individual (A) whose name is printed on the official ballot for election to the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, or (B) notwithstanding his name is not printed on such ballot, who seeks election to the office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress by write-in votes, provided that he is qualified for such office and that, under the law of the State in which the congressional district is located, write-in voting for such office is permitted and he is eligible to receive write-in votes in such election.

(3) The term “contestant” means an individual who contests the election of a Member of the House of Representatives under this chapter.

(4) The term “contestee” means a Member of the House of Representatives whose election is contested under this chapter.

(5) The term “Member of the House of Representatives” means an incumbent Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, or an individual who has been elected to such office but has not taken the oath of office.

(6) The term “Clerk” means the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

(7) The term “committee” means the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives.

(8) The term “State” means a State of the United States and any territory or possession of the United States.

(9) The term “write-in vote” means a vote cast for a person whose name does not appear on the official ballot by writing in the name of such person on such ballot or by any other method prescribed by the law of the State in which the election is held.

(Pub. L. 91–138, § 2, Dec. 5, 1969, 83 Stat. 284; Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 211(1), (2), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1743, 1744.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments1996—Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(1)(A)–(C), substituted “chapter:” for “chapter—” in introductory provisions, redesignated subdivs. (a) to (i) as pars. (1) to (9), respectively, and realigned margins of pars. (1) to (9). Par. (1). Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(2)(A), substituted “, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, but that term” for “or Resident Commissioner to the Congress of the United States, but”. Par. (2). Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(2)(B), substituted “office of Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress” for “House of Representatives of the United States” in subpar. (A) and “House of Representatives” in subpar. (B). Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(1)(D), redesignated pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively. Pars. (3), (4). Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(2)(C), (D), struck out “of the United States” after “House of Representatives”. Par. (5). Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(2)(E), substituted “term ‘Member of the House of Representatives’ means an incumbent Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress, or an individual who has been elected to such office” for “term ‘Member’ means an incumbent Representative in or Resident Commissioner to the Congress of the United States, or an individual who has been elected to either of such offices”. Par. (6). Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(2)(F), struck out “of the United States” after “House of Representatives”. Par. (7). Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(2)(G), substituted “House Oversight of the House of Representatives” for “House Administration of the House of Representatives of the United States”. Par. (8). Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(2)(H), substituted “means a State of the United States and any territory or” for “includes territory and”. Par. (9). Pub. L. 104–186, § 211(1)(A), (C), redesignated former subsec. (i) as par. (9).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name Committee on House Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on House Administration of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999.

Effective DatePub. L. 91–138, § 19, Dec. 5, 1969, 83 Stat. 291, provided that: “The provisions of, and the repeals made by, this Act [enacting this chapter and repealing sections 201 to 226 of this title] shall apply with respect to any general or special election for Representative in, or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress of the United States occurring after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 5, 1969].”

Short TitlePub. L. 91–138, § 1, Dec. 5, 1969, 83 Stat. 284, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and repealing sections 201 to 226 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Federal Contested Election Act’.”