Voting Rights Timeline
1870 to Present
1870 — The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified. It states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” 1957 — The Civil Rights Act of 1957 authorizes agents of the Federal Government to file suit in Federal court on behalf of black voters denied the right to vote. It contains provisions banning the intimidation of voters or interference in voting activities. Although it empowers the Federal Government to protect voting…
