Voting is fundamental to our democracy, and every citizen has the right to participate in the democratic process. That’s why we are dedicated to fighting for and supporting the rights of people to vote.
The 15th Amendment (ratified in 1870 and stipulated that men could not be denied the right to vote on the basis of race) and the 19th Amendment (ratified in 1920 and granted women the right to vote) set the foundation for our country’s voting rights laws. But for nearly a century, many states and localities used discriminatory laws and practices to suppress the voting power of blacks and other minority voters. Poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures were commonplace in the South. The Civil Rights Movement and the murders of voting-rights activists in 1964 brought national attention to the issue. This helped motivate President Johnson to initiate meaningful and effective national voting rights legislation, which Congress passed in 1965. The federal Voting Rights Act outlawed literacy tests, appointed federal examiners to verify voter eligibility, and required covered jurisdictions to obtain “preclearance” from either the District Court for the District of Columbia or the U.S. Attorney General before adopting any new voting policies or procedures.
Eight years ago, the Supreme Court gutted key protections in Shelby County v. Holder and has been chipping away at voting rights since. Now more than ever, it is important to take part in your community’s elections and make your voice heard.