Which statement best explains the Twenty-Third Amendment's changes to voting rights in the District of Columbia?
A. Citizens residing in the District can vote for a presidential candidate.
B. Citizens in the District can be eligible for the millitary act
C. Citizens residing in the District can elect a local government
D. Citizens residing in the District can elect members of Congress
A. Citizens residing in the District can vote for a presidential candidate.
A. Citizens residing in the District can vote for a presidential candidate.
The best statement that explains the Twenty-Third Amendment's changes to voting rights in the District of Columbia is option A: Citizens residing in the District can vote for a presidential candidate.
To arrive at this answer, we can look at the text of the Twenty-Third Amendment itself and its historical context. The Twenty-Third Amendment was ratified on March 29, 1961, and it specifically addressed the issue of voting rights for residents of the District of Columbia. Prior to the amendment, Washington, D.C. did not have representation in the Electoral College, meaning its residents were not able to directly vote for the President and Vice President of the United States.
The amendment rectified this by granting residents of the District of Columbia the right to vote for presidential electors who would then participate in the Electoral College. This allowed the residents of D.C. to have a voice in the selection of the President and Vice President.
Options B, C, and D do not accurately describe the changes made by the Twenty-Third Amendment. The amendment does not pertain to eligibility for the military, election of a local government, or the election of members of Congress. Instead, it specifically addresses voting rights in presidential elections.