Electoral History and Milestones

The first presidential election in the United States was held in 1789, with George Washington unanimously elected as the first president.

The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

Hiram Revels was the first African American to be elected to the US Congress, serving in the Senate from 1870 to 1871.

Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark legislation that outlawed discriminatory voting practices and expanded voting rights for African Americans.

In 1966, the US Supreme Court ruled in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections that states could not require poll taxes as a condition for voting, striking down a major barrier to voting for African Americans.

The 26th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, expanding the electorate and increasing youth participation in elections.

Rebecca Latimer Felton was the first woman to serve in the US Senate, appointed in 1922 to fill the unexpired term of her late husband.

Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

In 1967, the US Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia that states could not ban interracial marriage, striking down laws that prohibited marriage between people of different races.

George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, a landmark legislation that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensures their equal access to employment, public accommodations, transportation, and other areas of public life.

In 1993, the US Supreme Court ruled in Shaw v. Reno that states could not use racial gerrymandering to dilute the voting power of minority groups, setting limits on the use of race as a factor in drawing electoral districts.

George W. Bush signed the Help America Vote Act of 2002, a legislation aimed at improving the administration of elections in the United States, including measures to modernize voting systems, increase access to voting, and prevent voter fraud.

In 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that states could not ban same-sex marriage, legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

Joe Biden signed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, a legislation aimed at restoring and strengthening voting rights protections, particularly for communities of color.