What the law did
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it illegal for states to use tests, fees, or other tricks to stop people from voting based on their race. Before this law, many Southern states required voters to pass difficult literacy tests or pay poll taxes that Black citizens could not afford. These unfair rules kept millions of Black people from voting even though the 15th Amendment had made it illegal to stop someone from voting based on race.
Why it was needed
Despite the 15th Amendment passed in 1870, Black people in the South still faced severe barriers to voting a hundred years later. States created impossible literacy tests and other rules designed specifically to stop Black voters. The Voting Rights Act came after the Civil Rights Movement brought national attention to voting discrimination, including the Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama in 1965.
Federal oversight
The law gave the federal government power to oversee voting rules in states that had a history of discrimination. Federal examiners could be sent to register voters, and states had to get approval before changing their voting laws. This was important because it meant the federal government could step in if states tried to create new unfair voting rules.
Results and impact
After the Voting Rights Act passed, Black voter registration in the South increased dramatically. Millions of Black citizens were able to vote for the first time. This led to more Black people running for office and winning elections, which changed political power in the South and the entire country.
Changes over time
The law was renewed and strengthened several times, including in 1970, 1975, and 1982. However, in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down parts of the law that required federal approval for voting changes in certain states. This decision allowed some states to change their voting rules more easily. 
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