Voting Rights Act of 1965
History of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) gave the federal government power to ensure that state and local voting laws are not discriminatory. Considered to be landmark legislation, it ensured that southern states instituting discriminatory practices against African Americans and western states against Latinxs and American Indians, would be held accountable and severely limited in continuing those efforts. Read More »
March on Montgomery Toward the Voting Rights Act
The Selma to Montgomery March marked the height of the battle for African American enfranchisement. The march was actually three marches that took place in the month of March, 1965. Read More »
How the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Works
The Voting Rights Act gave the Federal Government power to ensure that voting laws are not discriminatory. Some Voting Rights Act provisions apply nationwide, and some provisions focus on states and local governments that have a past record of voting discrimination.
Below are explanations of the parts of this law that have the most effect on voters and state agencies responsible for making sure elections are fair. Read More »
Amendments to the Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act has been amended and extended several times since its passage in 1965. Certain amendments were triggered by pending expiration of some of the Act’s special provisions, which originally were set to expire by 1970. Highlights of each of the main amendments to the Act are discussed on the attached pages. Read More »
Challenges to the Voting Rights Act: Shelby County v. Holder 2013
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Voting Rights Act in numerous cases. Then, Shelby County, Alabama sued U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in 2013. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in this case fundamentally altered the way the Voting Rights Act is enforced throughout the country. Read More »