The 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments to the United States Constitution address voting rights and eligibility.
-
15th Amendment (Ratified in 1870): The 15th Amendment prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." It was designed to ensure that African American men, in particular, could exercise their right to vote following the Civil War.
-
19th Amendment (Ratified in 1920): The 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote, prohibiting any U.S. citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. This was a significant victory in the women’s suffrage movement and expanded democratic participation in the United States.
-
26th Amendment (Ratified in 1971): The 26th Amendment lowers the voting age to 18 years, ensuring that citizens who are 18 years or older cannot be denied the right to vote based on age. This amendment was largely influenced by the argument that if individuals were old enough to be drafted for military service, they should also be allowed to vote.
These amendments collectively reflect important milestones in the expansion of voting rights in the United States.