Voting Rights Act Timeline
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](/cases/shelby-county-v-holder-2013) (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: - Enforces the 15th Amendment’s promise against racial discrimination in voting. - Continues to shape legal battles over voter ID laws, redistricting, and election access. - Is at the center of modern debates about federal
Official Sources
- [U.S. Code – 52 U.S.C. §§ 10301 et seq.](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title52/subtitle1/chapter103&edition=prelim) - [Congress.gov – Voting Rights Act of 1965](https://www.congress.gov/bill/89th-congress/house-bill/6400) - [Department of Justice – Voting Section](https://ww