Voting Rights Act of 1965

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (52 U.S.C. § 10301 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
The Act was enacted to enforce the 15th Amendment, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It responded to widespread voter suppression, including literacy tests, poll taxes, and intimidation.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
The 15th Amendment (1870) banned racial discrimination in voting, but enforcement was weak. States, especially in the South, used Jim Crow laws to suppress minority votes. The Act gave federal government direct enforcement power.

Voting Rights Act – Timeline of Key Laws & Amendments

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) is one of the most important civil rights laws in U.S. history. It outlawed discriminatory voting practices and enforced the 15th Amendment. Over time, Congress expanded its protections — but recent court rulings have weakened them.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Prohibited literacy tests and other barriers to minority voting.
• Required jurisdictions with histories of discrimination to obtain federal preclearance before changing voting laws (Section 5).
• Authorized federal examiners to oversee elections in problem areas.

1970 Amendments

• Lowered the voting age in federal elections to 18 (later confirmed nationwide by the 26th Amendment).
• Expanded language assistance requirements.

1975 Amendments

• Extended protections to “language minority groups” (Spanish, Native American, Asian American, Alaskan Natives).
• Required bilingual voting materials in covered jurisdictions.

1982 Amendments

• Extended Section 5 preclearance for 25 years.
• Allowed plaintiffs to prove voting discrimination by showing discriminatory “effect,” not just intent.

2006 Reauthorization

• Renewed key provisions (including Section 5) for 25 more years with near-unanimous bipartisan support.

Supreme Court: Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

• Struck down the VRA’s coverage formula (Section 4(b)), effectively disabling preclearance under Section 5.
• After Shelby, states previously under preclearance could change voting laws without federal approval.

Recent Developments

• Congress has considered updates like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, but none have passed.
• The VRA’s Section 2 (ban on racial discrimination in voting) remains in effect, though litigation is ongoing in several states.

Why It Matters Today

The Voting Rights Act remains a cornerstone of American democracy. It: