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Historical Tidbit:
Historical Look at U.S. Voting
1788: Electoral College is established.
If a candidate wins the popular vote (a vote cast by a citizen) in a state, they win that state's Electoral College vote. It is possible, mathematically, to win the popular vote and lose the presidential election.
1820–1830: As states join the union, they create their own state voting regulations. Eligible voters are mostly white males who own property. A small number of free black men are allowed to vote.
1848: Wisconsin enters the union and allows people from other countries the right to vote if they have lived in Wisconsin for one year and plan to become US citizens.
1850: Laws are created in some states that voters must pass an English literacy test.
1868: The 14th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified. It granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to anyone born in the United States or who became a citizen of the country. Citizens aged 21 and over who are residents of the United States have the right to vote.
1869: 15th Amendment to the Constitution: All male citizens of voting age had the right to vote regardless of race, color, or if they were formally slaves.
1890: Many states begin to use secret ballots so that voters cannot be bullied.
1920: On August 18, Congress passes the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women citizens of voting age the right to vote.
1964: Congress passed the 24th Amendment to the Constitution, outlawing poll taxes or tax fees for voting.
1965: The Voting Rights Act is signed by President Lyndon Johnson. The act enforces the 15th Amendment by explicitly stating that obstacles, such as literacy tests or complicated ballot instructions, are against federal law.
1971: The 26th Amendment is passed, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.
1972: Maine votes to use the District Method of distributing electoral votes. Not all their electoral votes go to one candidate. Nebraska adopted the same in 1992.
1975: Congress expands the Voting Rights Act to protect the voting rights of those people who do not speak or read English.
Written by J. Rose
Sources:
Whitehouse.archives.gov
history.com
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