Voting Rights Timeline - by Grant Shirley

1820-1840 - Rise of Democratic Politics

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:19:00 UTC

"Politics of deference" to the leadership of elites was replaced by a new two-party system, made available by the newly expanded electorate. Two separate political parties now competed in every state. These parties had fundamental differences and relied on speeches, rallies, newspapers, parades, and party managers.

1870 - 15th Amendment

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:19:12 UTC

The 15th Amendment prohibits federal or state governments from denying the right to vote to citizens based on race. Men of different races (not Native Americans) and wealth levels are now allowed the right to vote. But after the Reconstruction Era, many Southern states relied on Jim Crow laws to suppress the voting rights of blacks and poor voters. Methods included poll taxes and literacy tests.

1920 - 19th Amendment

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:19:24 UTC

The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, stating that the right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of sex. This is a result of many women's suffrage movements and campaigns.

Indian Citizenship Act of 1924

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:19:34 UTC

The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 granted Native Americans full citizenship and access to the right to vote, without regard to tribal affiliation. This was a result of many protests by the Native Americans for citizenship and acts of legislation bringing the idea of citizenship closer and closer.

McCarren Walter Act of 1952

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:19:44 UTC

The McCarren Walter Act of 1952 granted Asian-Americans full citizenship and the right to vote. Asian-Americans were restricted from voting through The Chinese Exclusion Act and other immigration policies. The 14th and 15th Amendments still did not grant Asian-American men the right to vote due to voter intimidation and literacy tests. In 1943, they were allowed to be naturalized citizens and 10 years later, to vote.

1961 - 23rd Amendment

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:19:54 UTC

The 23rd Amendment gave residents of the District of Columbia the right to vote for U.S. presidents, but did not grant them congressional representation.

1964 - 24th Amendment

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:20:04 UTC

The 24th Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits Congress and the states from withholding the right to vote in federal elections based on payment of a poll tax or other types of tax. This was a tactic used to prevent poor or immigrants from voting in federal or state elections.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA)

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:20:12 UTC

Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which prohibited discriminatory barriers to voting for people of color. Literacy tests were banned to prevent the suppression of African Americans voters.

1971 - 26th Amendment

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:20:24 UTC

The 24th Amendment lowered the minimum age required to vote from 21 to 18 in context of the Vietnam War. The argument for this was that if the draft was as low as 18, then the voting age should also be lowered.

VRA Reauthorization of 1975

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:20:32 UTC

This reauthorized the Voting Rights Act of 1965, banning literacy tests and requiring that all voting materials be translated for language-minority citizens.

1984 - Voting Accessibility for Elderly and Handicapped Act

grantshirley523_ — 2024-03-06 16:20:41 UTC

The Voting Accessibility for Elderly and Handicapped Act required that voting/polling locations be accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly.