History of Voting

Only White Male Property Owners Can Vote

Dec 13, 1790

Only white male property owners could vote.

Connecticut adopts the nation's first literacy test for voting.

Dec 13, 1855

People needed to pass a literacy test to vote.

The 15th Amendment is Passed

Dec 13, 1870

Gives former slaves the right to vote.

Native Americans Cannot Vote

Dec 14, 1876

the Supreme Court rules that Native Americans are notcitizens as defined by the 14th Amendment and, thus, cannot vote.

Florida adopts a poll tax.

Dec 13, 1889

You had to pay a poll tax in order to vote.

The 19th Amendment guarantees women's suffrage

Dec 13, 1920

Women gained the right to vote.

Citizens of Washington, D.C. Can Vote For U.S. President

Dec 14, 1961

23rd Amendment passed. It gives citizens of Washington, D.C. the right to vote for U.S. president.

No Special Tax to Vote

Dec 14, 1964

24th Amendment passed. It forbids that the right to vote in federal elections will not be denied for failure to pay any tax.

Voting Age Lowered to 18

Dec 14, 1971

26th Amendment passed, granting voting rights to 18-year-olds.

Voting Materials in Various Languages

Dec 14, 1975

Amendments to Voting Right Act require that certain voting materials be printed in languages besides English so that people who do not read English can participate in the voting process.