VOTING RIGHTS TIMELINE

1790

• Only white male adult property owners could vote

1850

• Property ownership and tax requirements eliminated. Almost all adult white males could vote.

1870

• The 15th amendment is passed. This gives former slaves the right to vote and protects voting rights of adult. Male citizens of any race.

1889

• Florida adopts poll tax. 10 other states will implement poll tax.

1890

• Numerous stars establish literacy test to keep black people from voting. Grandfather clause allow those who could vote before 1879 or their descendants to vote, keeping African Americans from voting.

1915

• In Guinn v. United States the Supreme Court rules grandfather clause is in conflict with the 15th amendment, also outlawing literacy tests for federal elections.

1920

• 19th amendment guarantees women's suffrage

1944

• Supreme Court outlaws "white primaries"

1957

• The civil rights act is passed

1964

• The 24th amendment bans the poll tax as a requirement for voting in federal elections

1965

• Dr. Martin Luther King has a voter registration drive in Selma Alabama to draw attention to African American voting rights.
• Voting rights act protects the right of minority voters and eliminates voting barriers such as the literacy test.
• By the end of 1965 more than 250,000 new black voters are registered

1970/1975/1982

• The voting rights act is renewed.

2013

• Shelby County v. Holder the Supreme Court strikes down sections 4 of the voting rights acts.

SOURCES

• http://www.infoplease.com/timelines/voting.html
• https://www.aclu.org/files/VRATimeline.html?redirect=timeline-history-votin...