Voting Rights Act of 1965

Melissa Dixon
Wednesday, August 06, 2025
President Lyndon B. Johnson moves to shake hands with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with pen in hand while others look on

Photo by Yoichi Okamoto / LBJ Library

United States President Lyndon B. Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks at the signing of the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed August 6, 1965.

This landmark legislation aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting by removing barriers to voting, such as literacy tests, and requiring federal approval for changes in voting procedures in areas with a history of racial discrimination.

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Voting Rights
Elections