The history of voting in the United States is a long evolution from a system designed for landholding white men to one that is more inclusive—though still imperfect as we are seeing continued threats to voter access including the dismantling of Section II of the Voting Rights Act. In the nation’s early years, voting rights were determined by property ownership, race, and gender, reflecting a political system built to preserve existing power structures. Over the 19th century, restrictions based on property were gradually eliminated, expanding participation among white men but still excluding women, people of color, and many immigrants. 

   

For women, the right to vote was the result of nearly a century of activism, organizing, and public pressure. From the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to decades of marches, petitions, and civil disobedience, suffragists challenged entrenched beliefs about gender and citizenship. Their persistence led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, prohibiting voting discrimination based on sex. However, many women—particularly Black, Native American, Asian American, and Latina women—continued to face legal and practical disenfranchisement for decades due to poll taxes, literacy tests, citizenship restrictions, racial violence, and lack of language translation. Women of color played essential roles in expanding voting rights not only for themselves but for their communities and for other people of color. 

  

People of color, especially Black Americans, faced some of the most significant and sustained voter suppression in U.S. history. Even after the 15th Amendment promised that race could not determine voting eligibility, Southern states enacted Jim Crow laws, intimidation tactics, and systemic barriers that effectively stripped Black citizens of their political power. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 became a watershed moment, targeting discriminatory practices and enabling millions to participate more fully in democracy. Electoral maps can hide mechanisms to silence Black voters and drastically impact Black voters’ opportunities to elect candidates of their choice - candidates who understand their experiences, will serve their communities honestly, and prioritize solutions and resources that communities desire. 

 

However, on April 29th, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that Section II of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional. No longer can race be considered when drawing election maps. With this ruling, Louisiana can change their electoral maps back to the original maps, which resulted in disproportionate representation based on race. 

 

Meaning, Black voters did not have the same level of representation as White voters. The Equal Protection Clause states, “no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws," meaning that in this case, voting rights should be equal – representation should not differ based on race. With the Supreme Court's ruling, states will have the ability to redistrict without consideration to race. 

  

For example, in the case of Louisiana v. Callias, what was two predominantly Black districts could be drawn differently by carving those districts up into multiple additional districts – diluting the power of Black voters. 

 

Non-English speaking immigrants have also confronted language-based obstacles for generations. The 1975 amendments to the Voting Rights Act required language assistance in jurisdictions with large populations of citizens with limited English proficiency, acknowledging that meaningful access includes understanding the process. Together, these struggles illustrate the ongoing effort to make voting not just a legal right, but a practical and inclusive reality for all. 

  

While significant gains have been made in the past century, these gains continue to be increasingly threatened.   

  

This is why elections are so important. 

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