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Suffrage stated in constitution
The constitution leaves the voting qualifications up to the states. The right to vote is not explictly stated in the constitution. At the time of the constitution they used property qualifications to limit the votes. -
The Amendments
14th: Gave African Americans full citizenship
15th: Guaranteeded the right to vote regardless of race
19th: gave women the right to vote
24th: Stopped the poll tax to vote
26th: Voting age of 18 -
Literacy Tests
A literacy test required that a person proved that he or she is able to read and write. Some states required theat men pass this test in order to vote. Since african americans were denied the right of education so they couldn't pass -
Grandfather Clause
The Grandfather clause said that if your grandfather had the right to vote you may vote. The concept originated in late nineteenth-century legislation and constitutional amendments passed by a number of U.S. Southern states. The original Gandfather clauses were eventally ruled unconstitutional. -
Womens suffrage
Following the American Revolution, women were allowed to vote in New Jersey. In 1807 all women were taken off the voters' roll as universally male suffrage was instated. During the beginning of the 20th century, as women's suffrage faced several important federal votes. In 1920 the Nineteenth Amendment, which prohibited state or federal sex-based restrictions on voting. -
Poll tax
A poll tax is a fee that you had to pay in order to vote. Former slaves were to poor to pay so they couldn't vote. California was the first state to stop the tax in 1914. -
The Voting Rights Act
It is an act that enforces the 15th amendment. The Act prohibits states and local governments from imposing any "voting qualification or prerequisite to voting. It was signed in by President Lyndon B. Johnson. -
Voting requirements today
You must be of the age 18. You have to be an american citizen. You must register to be known that you are qualified to vote.