Racial Differences in Voting Rights

The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1870, prohibits states from depriving citizens the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

In Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966), the Supreme Court ruled that the poll tax was an unconstitutional voting requirement that violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in voting and establishes federal oversight of voter registration and elections.

Gerrymandering is the practice of intentionally drawing electoral districts to favor one political party or group over another.

In Shaw v. Reno (1993), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of racial gerrymandering, ruling that it was not a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Voter suppression is the practice of purging voter rolls of eligible voters, making it more difficult for them to cast a ballot.

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires states to provide provisional ballots to voters whose eligibility is in question.

Voter ID laws are laws that require voters to show identification before they can cast a ballot.

In Crawford v. Marion County Election Board (2008), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of voter ID laws, ruling that they were not a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Racial gerrymandering is the practice of intentionally targeting minority voters with voter suppression tactics.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits racial discrimination in housing.

Redlining is the practice of steering minority homebuyers away from certain neighborhoods.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 prohibits racial discrimination in lending.

Predatory lending is the practice of charging minority borrowers higher interest rates than white borrowers.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 prohibits racial discrimination in employment.