Voting Rights Act

The United States Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed literacy tests and provided for federal registration of African-American voters in areas that had less than 50% of eligible voters registered. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965.

Related Legislation

• 1957 PL 85-315 Civil Rights Act
• 1960 PL 86-449 Civil Rights Act
• 1964 PL 88-352 Civil Rights Act
• 1964 24th Amendment Poll tax outlawed
• 1965 PL 89-110 Voting Rights Act
• 1970 PL 91-285 Voting Rights Act Extension
• 1971 26th Amendment Voting age reduced to 18 for all elections
• 1975 PL 94-73 Voting Rights Act Extension
• 1982 PL 97-205 Voting Rights Act Extension
• 1984 PL 98-435 Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act