What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a federal law that was passed in the United States in order to protect the voting rights of all citizens regardless of race in the United States. This act was created to prohibit discriminatory practices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, that were used by some states to deny African-Americans the right to vote. The act extended the 15th Amendment’s protections to racial minorities and made it illegal for any state or political subdivision to enact any law that would deny any American citizen the right to vote “on account of race or color”. In North Carolina, this act prohibits any form of discrimination in the voting process, such as unequal treatment at the polls or election districts that are drawn to deny minorities of their right to vote. The Act also allows for the protection of minority voters who have been historically underrepresented in the voting process. This act has been a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement and its effective enforcement is a key element in ensuring that all citizens have equal access to the polls and their votes are counted.

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What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

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