-
Religious qualifications, instituted in colonial days, quickly disappeared. No state has had a religious test for voting since 1810.
-
Wyoming, while still a territory, had given women the right to vote in 1869. By 1920 more than half of the states had followed that lead.
-
The 15th amendment, ratified in 1870, was intended to protect any citizen from being denied the right to vote because of race or color.
-
The 19th amendment prohibited the denial of the right to vote because of sex. Its ratification in 1920 completed the third expansion of suffrage.
-
During this time, federal legislation and court decisions focused on securing African Americans a full role in the electoral process in all states.
-
The 23rd Amendment, passed in 1961, added the voters of the district of columbia to the presidential electorate.
-
The 24th amendment, ratified in 1964, eliminated the poll tax as a condition for voting in any federal election.
-
The voting rights act of 1965 and its later extensions, racial equality finally became fast in polling booths throughout the country.
-
The 26th amendment was adopted in 1971. It provides that no state can set the minimum age for voting at more than 18 years of age.
You are not authorized to access this page.
