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During the colonial period, women had no right to vote, as was common with the mother country of England and later Great Britain. Some local assemblies existed, such as in Massachusetts, but society was largely hierarchical and limited the elective franchise to white landowning men. Both enslaved and free African-Americans were excluded from voting. Native Americas were considered members of foreign nations and had no right to vote. Some colonies excluded members of certain Christian denominations (e.g. some New England colonies did not allow Catholics to vote).

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The Founding Era and the Early Republic (1776-1828)

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The Founding Era and the Early Republic (1776-1828)

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There were still property requirements to vote, excluding poor white men. Some northern states, such as New York and New Jersey, allowed free black men to vote briefly. New Jersey women who owned property were also able to vote until 1807, after which they lost this right. Native Americans remained excluded from voting as they were considered non-citizens.

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The Antebellum and Civil War Era (1829-1865)

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The Antebellum and Civil War Era (1829-1865)

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Jacksonian Democracy made significant strides in loosening voting requirements, and by 1856 all white men could vote regardless of property ownership. In the north, restrictions on the black vote tightened, and women were still largely excluded throughout the country. Native Americans still did not have the right to vote since they were not citizens.

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The Post-War and Jim Crow Era (1866-1945)

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The Post-War and Jim Crow Era (1866-1945)

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The 15th Amendment allowed African American to vote, but many local and regional legislatures imposed unfair restrictions, such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and the Grandfather Clause, all aimed to prevent freed black slaves from participating in elections. These African Americans immediately became involved in politics, and many freed slaves ran for and even held political office, inspired by notable African Americans such as the orator Frederick Douglass. After Reconstruction, however, progress stalled, and Jim Crow laws caused significant regression with regards to black voting rights. The women’s suffrage movement gained limited momentum during this period, but women were still excluded from voting. Finally, in 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act granted citizenship to Native Americans, but state restrictions impeded their vote through the 1940s.

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The 19th Amendment in 1920 granted women the right to vote. The 1965 Voting Rights Act banned the implementation for discriminatory literacy tests and expanded federal government power to regulate elections. The 24th Amendment in 1964 abolished poll taxes. Native Americans retained their right to vote following the Indian Citizenship Act.

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The 1982 Amendment to Voting Rights Act reinforced the ban on racial discrimination during voting processes. However, many states began passing legislation that prevented formerly incarcerated individuals from voting. In the 21st century, many states have enacted Voter ID laws, which have drawn criticism due to supposedly marginalizing underrepresented groups such as the elderly, African American, and the poor. Advocates argue that Voter ID helps maintain election integrity by preventing voter fraud, and the issue came under intense scrutiny during the 2020 presidential election. Many supporters of Donald Trump, who lost the election, accused voter fraud due to the record numbers in mail-in voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Voter ID remains an ongoing topic of debate in politics today.