Voter History

Founding Era: In the early presidential elections, most states either did not hold popular elections or imposed a property requirement, meaning only White men with property could vote

Era of the “Common Man”: By 1824, almost all states began to hold popular elections for presidential electors and property requirements were gradually eliminated with the rise of the “common man” in politics, Andrew Jackson.

Women’s Rights of the Reform Era: Influential women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton began to petition for a constitutional amendment, guaranteeing the right of women to vote. In 1848, prominent female leaders signed the Declaration of Sentiments, a symbolic document that drew parallels from the Declaration of Independence in affirming women’s right to vote (which did not arrive until much later).

Reconstruction: In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Republican Party worked to protect the political rights of the newly-freed slaves in the South. The 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship for all Black men and the 15th Amendment prohibited voter discrimination on the basis of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”. Many Southern states sent their first Black Representatives to Congress.

Post-Reconstruction: After the disputed 1876 election, the Compromise of 1876 was struck: Republican Rutherford Hayes would win the White House, while Democrats would no longer see the federal army protecting Black Americans in the South. Soon, groups such as the KKK suppressed African-Americans’ rights and forbade them from voting. They used tools such as the poll tax, grandfather clause, and literacy tests. African-Americans across the South lost the right to vote, and found themselves, once again, stripped of their political rights.

Women: During the Progressive Era, influential women such as Carrie Chapman Catt, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed the National Women's Suffrage Association. They fought for the right of women to vote, though many groups saw this movement as a way to “disrupt” the traditional nuclear family. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote. It is important to understand, however, that many Black women across the South still did not have the right to vote, as they were disenfranchised.

Civil Rights Era: By the mid-20th century, prominent Black leaders, including Rosa Parks and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated for African-Americans’ political and social rights. They fought for the right of Black Americans to access the ballot box and an end to segregation across the country (primarily in the South). President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965–a landmark piece of legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in voting.

Vietnam Era: As more and more young people began to oppose the draft for the Vietnam War, a new slogan emerged: “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote!” The younger generation was protesting the fact that 18-year-olds could be drafted for the military, but could not vote to change policy. As a result, Congress ratified the 26th Amendment in 1971, guaranteeing the right to vote for all citizens that were at least 18 years old.