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#OnThisDay in 1965, Johnson signed the Voter Rights Act (VRA). The #VRA is a landmark federal law enacted in 1965 to remove race-based restrictions on voting.

** UPDATE: The VRA was successfully challenged in June 2013 (Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder). The Supreme Court struck down (in a 5-4 ruling) Section 4(b) as outdated and not “grounded in current conditions.” Consequently, Section 5 is intact, but inoperable, unless or until Congress prescribes a new Section 4 formula. **

1965 - Johnson signs VRA

1970 - Nixon signs 5-yr renewal

1975 - Ford signs 7-yr renewal

1982 - Reagan signs 25-yr renewal

2006 - Bush signs 25-yr renewal

2013 - Shelby v. Holder challenges VRA

Learn more: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43626.pdf

Resources:

Johnson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNjlwwf2K9g&feature=youtu.be

Nixon: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-signing-the-voting-rights-act-amendments-1970

Ford: https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0005/1561605.pdf

Reagan: https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/research/speeches/62982b

Bush: https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060727.html

Shelby v. Holder: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-96_6k47.pdf

VRA Timeline: https://www.aclu.org/voting-rights-act-major-dates-history

Prior challenges: https://www.usccr.gov/pubs/msdelta/ch3.htm

Current status: https://www.usccr.gov/pubs/2018/Minority_Voting_Access_2018.pdf


History: https://www.justice.gov/crt/history-federal-voting-rights-laws Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA87JWa0bEw
Video: https://storycorps.org/stories/ellie-dahmer-and-bettie-dahmer-170113/

Aug 6, 1965: Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the civil rights movement on August 6, 1965, and