Voting Rights in US History by Christina Carpenter

Reconstruction Era 1860-1877

ccarpenter76 — 2025-02-25 19:10:08 UTC

The most incredible thing that happened during the Reconstruction Era 1860-1877 was the addiction of the 13th 14th & 15th amendment the reason this was so incredible was because I meant slavery was over and ensured citizenship to all African American and the right to vote.

also the first African American that vote under the 15th amendment was Mundy Petterson and that was something really big for African American.

The death of Abraham Lincoln in April,1865

Jim Crow & Civil Rights Era Late 1865-1969

ccarpenter76 — 2025-02-25 19:30:59 UTC

5 Key Events

the fifteen amendment passed 1869

24th amendment adopted in 1964

Voting rights act signed into law 1965

1877 im crow segergation

ninteen amendment passed 190

Who could vote

all white people who owned property

Who could not vote

all people that didnt own property

voting requirement

literacy test

property ownership

Colonial Era 1776-1860

ccarpenter76 — 2025-02-25 19:32:24 UTC

Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which ensured that people could not be denied the right to vote because of their race.
Property-owning widows could vote in some colonies, but it was unusual.

For some property-owning free Black people, this meant a loss of voting rights.

Modern Era 1970-Present

ccarpenter76 — 2025-02-25 19:35:00 UTC

Key Events:

Voting Rights Act Amendments (1970, 1975, 1982, 2006): These amendments extended and strengthened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, addressing ongoing discriminatory practices and ensuring language assistance for voters.
26th Amendment (1971): Lowered the voting age to 18.
National Voter Registration Act (1993) (Motor Voter Act): Made it easier to register to vote by allowing registration when applying for a driver's license or through mail-in forms.
Bush v. Gore (2000): Supreme Court decision that resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election, highlighting issues with voting technology and ballot recounts.
Shelby County v. Holder (2013): Supreme Court decision that struck down Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act, which determined which jurisdictions needed federal preclearance for changes to their voting laws. This decision significantly impacted voting rights enforcement.

Who Could Vote?
Generally, all U.S. citizens aged 18 and older could vote, regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This included African Americans, women, Native Americans, and other minority groups.

Who Was Excluded?
- Identify groups that were denied voting rights:
- In most states, individuals convicted of felonies are denied voting rights, though the extent of this varies by state.
- Non-citizens are unable to vote in federal, and most state and local elections.
- There are still instances of voter suppression targeting minority groups, including restrictive voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and limited access to polling places.
- People deemed mentally incompetent by a court.
Voting Requirements:
- Voter registration is required in most states.
- States may require proof of identity, which has become a point of contention with voter ID laws.
- Residency requirements vary by state.
- Polling place locations and hours can vary, potentially creating barriers to access.
- States have different rules regarding voter registration deadlines.
- States have different rules regarding early voting, and mail in voting.

Key Figures:

1. John Lewis: A civil rights leader and congressman who continued to advocate for voting rights throughout his career, particularly after the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

2. Ruth Bader Ginsburg: As a Supreme Court Justice, she often emphasized the importance of voting rights and dissented in the Shelby County v. Holder decision.