The Civil Rights Act of 1965 is officially known as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965, to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and eliminate discriminatory voting practices, particularly in the South.
Key Provisions and Impact
Considered highly effective civil rights legislation, the VRA included several key provisions:
- It banned discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and poll taxes, which were used to disenfranchise racial minorities. (The Supreme Court later ruled all remaining poll taxes unconstitutional).
- Section 2 established a nationwide prohibition against voting qualifications or procedures that result in denying or limiting the right to vote based on race or color. An amendment in 1982 added a “results test,” allowing a practice to be found in violation without needing proof of discriminatory intent.
- Section 5 required jurisdictions with a history of voting discrimination to get federal approval (“preclearance”) before changing their voting laws.
- The Attorney General could assign federal examiners and observers to register voters and monitor elections in areas with persistent discrimination.
- Amendments in 1975 extended protections to language minorities, requiring bilingual ballots and election materials in certain areas.
Historical Context
The VRA was enacted in response to resistance to Black voter registration efforts, including the “Bloody Sunday” attack in Selma, Alabama, in March 1965. The violence prompted President Johnson and Congress to act. The Act significantly increased Black voter registration and representatio
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