Voting Rights Timeline By brave_kub Jan 1, 1776 Only people who own land can vote Jan 1, 1787 No federal voting standard—states decide who can vote Jan 1, 1789 Only 6% of the population can vote. Jan 1, 1856 Vote expanded to all white men Jan 1, 1868 Former slaves granted citizenship Jan 1, 1870 Vote cannot be denied because of race, explicitly –so other discriminatory tactics used Jan 1, 1872 Women try to vote Jan 1, 1876 Indigenous people cannot vote Jan 1, 1890 Indigenous people must apply for citizenship Jan 1, 1920 Right to vote extended to women Jan 1, 1963 Voting rights as civil rights Mar 26, 1971 Voting age lowered to 18