{"id":351426,"date":"2020-03-17T09:36:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-17T14:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/voting\/how-do-i-protect-my-right-to-vote\/introduction-to-federal-voting-rights-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-02-07T13:35:16","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T18:35:16","slug":"introduction-to-federal-voting-rights-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/voting\/how-do-i-protect-my-right-to-vote\/introduction-to-federal-voting-rights-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Introduction to Federal Voting Rights Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Introduction to Federal Voting Rights Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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The right to vote is a fundamental right for all citizens of the United States. Protecting your voting rights is the cornerstone of democracy. Voting is a way to urge the U.S. government to enact federal and state laws that align with your beliefs and interests.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

This article provides a comprehensive overview of federal voting rights laws. It aims to encourage readers to learn more about their right to vote, eligibility to vote, and other relevant topics.<\/p>\r\n

Title I of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: The Groundwork<\/h2>\r\n

The Civil Rights Act of 1964<\/a> addressed discrimination in different contexts, including discriminatory practices in voter registration to racial segregation in public schools and businesses. Title I of the act focused on eliminating racial discrimination in determining voter eligibility. In particular, Title I made significant revisions to the Civil Rights Act of 1957, targeting discriminatory practices such as:<\/p>\r\n

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  1. The application of inconsistent criteria for voter qualification<\/li>\r\n
  2. The use of literacy tests as a precondition for voter registration<\/li>\r\n
  3. The rejection of voter applications because of minor registration or documentation requirements errors<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    The Voting Rights Act of 1965<\/h2>\r\n

    Enacted a year after the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act of 1965<\/a> is the primary source of law for federal voting laws. This act is one of the most influential civil rights laws in the history of the United States.<\/p>\r\n

    The act became law during the term of President Lyndon B. Johnson<\/a>. It aimed to remove barriers that prevented African Americans from voting. Although the 15th Amendment prohibited racial discrimination when it comes to voting, African Americans faced various challenges. This prevented them from exercising their right to vote.<\/p>\r\n

    Many voting rights activists in the 1950s and 1960s faced violence and mistreatment. One of the most notable incidents was the one that happened on March 7, 1965. During the Selma to Montgomery<\/a> march, peaceful protesters faced brutal attacks from Alabama state troopers. The incident was broadcast on national television.<\/p>\r\n

    Because of the shocking events, President Johnson pushed for a more comprehensive voting rights law. During his historic speech on March 15, 1965, before the House of Representatives and the Senate, the president talked about how election officers deny African Americans their right to vote.<\/p>\r\n

    For instance, election officials gave African Americans attempting to exercise their right to vote misleading voting details, unfair literacy tests, or incorrectly informed them about their voter registrations.<\/p>\r\n

    The act included a prohibition against racial and language discrimination in voting practices and policies and banned literacy tests outright.<\/p>\r\n

    Section 5 of the Voting Rights Acts of 1965<\/h3>\r\n

    Section 5 is a special provision requiring states with histories of discriminatory practices to get advance federal approval before changing their voting rights laws. The section is to ensure that these laws’ changes do not have a discriminating effect or purpose, or it would go against the guarantees of the Voting Rights Acts of 1965<\/a>. This advance federal approval is sought from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or the Attorney General.<\/p>\r\n

    Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act<\/h3>\r\n

    Congress has required bilingual voting materials and ballots for language minority groups in certain jurisdictions since 1975. The designated jurisdictions are those with over 10,000 or over 5%<\/a> of the total voting age who do not understand English well. Section 203<\/a> focuses on the languages of minority citizens who have suffered a history of exclusion from the political process, including the following:<\/p>\r\n