Voting and Election Laws

Please note important, temporary changes that may occur to voter accessibility due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This gave states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections. Many Constitutional amendments and federal laws to protect voting rights have been passed since then. 

Constitutional Amendments Affecting Voting Rights

• The  gave African American men the right to vote in 1870. But many weren't able to exercise this right. Some states used literacy tests and other barriers to make it harder to vote.

• Đang chơi bàiThe , ratified in 1920, gave American women the right to vote.

• The , ratified in 1964, eliminated poll taxes. The tax had been used in some states to keep African Americans from voting in federal elections.

• The , ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age for all elections to 18.

Federal Voting Rights Laws

Federal laws passed over the years help protect Americans’ right to vote and make it easier for citizens to exercise that right:

• The Civil Rights Acts created some of the earliest federal protections against discrimination in voting. These protections were first outlined by the and were later amended by the Civil Rights Acts of

• The prohibited voter discrimination based on race, color, or membership in a language minority group. It also required certain places to provide election materials in languages besides English.

• The required polling places to be accessible to people with disabilities.

• allowed members of the U.S. armed forces and overseas U.S. voters to register and vote by mail.

• Đang chơi bàiThe created new ways to register to vote. It also called for states to keep more accurate voter registration lists.

• The authorized federal funds for elections. It also created the . The EAC helps states comply with HAVA to adopt minimum standards on voter education, registration, and ballots.

• The improved access to voting by military and overseas voters.

State Voter ID Laws

Two-thirds of states require you to show some form of identification before you’re allowed to vote. Learn more about states' voter ID requirements.

fall into three broad categories:

• Campaign finance crimes, such as when candidates accept funds that violate the amounts or donors permitted under the law

• Đang chơi bài, involving voter intimidation, coercion, threats, and other tactics to suppress a person’s ability to vote

• , such as when someone illegally casts a vote in the name of a dead person or someone who’s moved

Many states have strengthened their voter ID requirementsĐang chơi bài to try to stop voter fraud.

Is it illegal for someone to ask me who I voted for? Is it illegal for me to tell?

You have the right to cast your vote in private. It’s up to you whether you want to share your choices with others.

Đang chơi bàiThere’s no law preventing someone from asking you who you voted for. 

How do I report voter fraud or voter suppression?

If you suspect voter fraud, report it to your state or territorial election officeĐang chơi bài. You can also report it to:

• A

• A

• The of the Department of Justice's Criminal Division

Đang chơi bàiIf you witness or suspect voter intimidation or suppression, there are three ways you can report it:

• Contact your state or territorial election office

• Contact the  of the Department of Justice

• Use the

during the 2019-2020 elections. That means you can donate up to $2,800 each to:

• One or more candidates in a federal primary election

• One or more candidates in a federal general election

 

Financial Reporting Requirements for Candidates in Federal Elections

requires candidates to report:

• Where the money they raise comes from, and the amounts

• Where the money they spend goes, and the amounts

Đang chơi bàiThe law applies to candidates for president as well as for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Federal Election Commission’s Role in Campaign Finance Law

The  oversees enforcement of the Federal Election Campaign Act. The FEC:

• Đang chơi bàiSets campaign contribution limits for individuals and groups

• Đang chơi bàiOversees public funding used in presidential elections

Đang chơi bàiLast Updated: September 1, 2020