How has the Supreme Court interpreted the right of citizens to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment?

The Supreme Court has interpreted the right to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment on multiple occasions. The Fifteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution states that "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." In the years since the amendment was ratified, the Supreme Court has interpreted its meaning and scope in several landmark decisions. In Terry v. Adams (1953), the Court ruled that the Fifteenth Amendment prohibited clearly discriminatory application of voting rules. Further, in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960), theCourt held that the Fifteenth Amendment prohibited racial gerrymandering of electoral districts. In Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections (1966), the Supreme Court ruled that the Fifteenth Amendment prohibits the imposition of a poll tax as a condition for voting. More recently, in Shelby County v. Holder (2013), the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that required certain states with a history of racial discrimination to obtain pre-clearance from the Federal Government before making any changes to voting laws. However, the Court clarified that this decision did not affect the Fifteenth Amendment and the prohibition against discrimination in voting. Ultimately, the Supreme Court has consistently held that the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution protects citizens from discrimination in voting. Its opinions provide guidance to all state legislatures and courts to ensure that all citizens are allowed to exercise their right to vote.

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