Voting Rights Timeline

By madsnoel

  • Only white males who own land can vote

  • No federal voting standard - states decide who can vote

    Since there is no agreement on a national standard for voting rights, states are given the power to regulate their own voting laws

  • Only 6% of the population can vote

  • Religious tests for voting disappeared

    Then one by one, States began to eliminate property ownership and tax payment qualifications. By mid-century almost all white adult males could vote in every state

  • Wyoming

    Wyoming, while still a territory, gave women the right to vote in 1869.

  • 15th Amendment

    Ratified in 1870, this amendment was intended to protect any citizen from being denied the right to vote because of color or race.

  • Native Americans

    The Supreme Court rules that Native Americans are not citizens as defined by the 14th Amendment and cannot vote

  • 19th Amendment

    The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920 and gave all women the right to vote

  • Native Americans ... Again

    The Indian Citizenship Act grants citizenship to Native Americans, but many states nonetheless make laws and policies which prohibit Native Americans from voting.

  • 23rd Amendment

    Added the voters of the District of Columbia to the presidential electorate

  • Voting Rights Act of 1965

    Racial equality finally became fact in polling booths throughout the country

  • Voting age lowered to 18

  • National Voter Registration Act passed

    Intends to increase the number of eligible
    citizens who register to vote by making registration available at the Department of Motor Vehicles, and public assistance and disabilities agencies.