What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a federal law that prohibited racial discrimination in voting. The act aimed to protect citizens from racial discrimination in all parts of the electoral process, from registration to access to polling places, to actual voting. It was a major element of the Civil Rights Movement, which sought to end racial segregation and discrimination in the United States. The Voting Rights Act specifically banned the use of literacy tests, poll taxes and other means that were used to deny African Americans the right to vote. It gave the Department of Justice the ability to monitor elections to ensure that no district was discriminating against a particular group of people. It also required that states and localities with a history of discrimination be pre-cleared before they can implement any changes to their voting laws. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a significant step in the advancement of civil rights in Washington and the rest of the United States. It has helped to ensure that all citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process. Finally, the act was modified and extended in 1975 and 1982, to ensure that its protections for minority voters continue to be applicable today.

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What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

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