Timeline of Voting Rights in the United States Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Timeline-of-Voting-Rights-in-the-United-States Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Timeline-of-Voting-Rights-in-the-United-States Written by Mindy Johnston Mindy Spitzer Johnston is Managing Editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. Mindy Johnston Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 28, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents The right to vote is a hallmark of democratic governments. The strength of a democracy can be measured by its free and fair elections that give equal voice to all eligible citizens. Since the founding of the United States in 1776, the federal and state governments have wrestled with the question of who should be eligible to vote and how their rights should be enshrined and protected. Voting rights have expanded and contracted—through landmark legislation, constitutional amendments, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions—throughout history, reflecting the evolution of the American democratic project and ultimately embracing the diversity of the electorate. ...(100 of 99 words)

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