voting rights amendments

voting rights amendments

15th Admendment

• Ratified in 1870, the 15th Amendment was designed to protect U.S. citizens from being denied the right to vote based on race, color or former slave status. The amendment specified that all men over the age of 21 would be entitled to vote regardless of race or color. With slavery having been abolished only five years prior to its ratification, the 15th Amendment reflected the gradual integration of African-Americans into American society.

19th Amendment

Ratified in 1920, the 19th Amendment made voting available to women. Prior to the amendment, women were not able to vote in federal elections. Also known as the Women’s Suffrage Clause, the 19th Amendment guaranteed that women had just as much right to vote as their male counterparts did.

23rd Admendment

The 23rd amendment gives residents of Washington DC the right to vote for representatives in the Electoral College. Remember that the Electoral College chooses our next president, based on the voting within their state.

24th Amendment

Ratified in 1964, the 24th Amendment made it illegal to require voters to pay a poll tax. Prior to the amendment, black people and others of little means were excluded from casting votes because they did not have the money to pay for a poll tax. The 24th Amendment put an end to people being disenfranchised by a lack of money.

26th Admendment

Ratified in 1971, the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Prior to the amendment, 18-year-old Americans were being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War but did not have the right to vote. The 26th Amendment gave voting rights to any American citizen who was 18 years of age or older.