The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Historical Background and Current Issues

By passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Congress challenged the widespread evidence of disfranchisement of black citizens in certain southern states. This Act protects citizens' right to vote by forbidding covered states from using any tests that would determine eligibility to vote, by requiring these states to obtain federal approval before enacting any election laws and by assigning federal officials to monitor the registration process in certain localities. In 1970, Congress extended the Voting Rights Act for an additional 5 years and its coverage to other jurisdictions when evidence presented at congressional hearings revealed continued racial discrimination in voting. Throughout the next three decades, further legislation was added to the Act, to more wholly protect the individual citizen of this country. This book delves into the history of the Voting Rights Act as well as the current challenges and issues that face Congress.