Five amendments to the US Constitution directly affect voting qualifications
The overall effect of the five amendments was to extend the vote to
previously disenfranchised groups and to prohibit voter discrimination based on race, sex, or age. These amendments are:
1. 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This amendment aimed to protect the voting rights of African Americans, particularly in the aftermath of the Civil War.
2. 19th Amendment (1920): Granted women the right to vote, prohibiting the denial of voting rights based on sex. This amendment was a major milestone in the women's suffrage movement.
3. 24th Amendment (1964): Prohibited the use of poll taxes as a requirement for voting in federal elections. Poll taxes had been used to disenfranchise poor African American voters in the South.
4. 26th Amendment (1971): Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, granting 18-year-olds the right to vote. This amendment was a response to the Vietnam War and the belief that if young adults were old enough to be drafted and fight in wars, they should also be able to vote.
5. 23rd Amendment (1961): Granted residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections. Prior to this amendment, residents of D.C. did not have representation in the Electoral College.
These amendments have expanded the franchise and helped to ensure that all citizens have the right to participate in the democratic process.