Important Dates In Voting History
The passage of the U.S. Constitution giving white male property owners
age 21 and over the right to vote.
1807 - 1843
Series of acts that changed voting requirments so that all white men 21
and older could vote.
1870
The 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to all men that were 21
or older regardless of race or ethnic background.
1920
The 19th Amendment gave women age 21 and older the right to vote.
1964
The 24th Amendment made it illegal for states to charge poll tax to voters.
1965
The Voting Rights Act authorized the federal government to take over registration
of voters in areas where state officials had regularly prevented blacks
and other minorities from registering to vote or cast their ballots through
usage of literacy tests, grandfather clauses, and intimidation tactics.
This Act enforced provisions previously guaranteed in the 13th, 14th,
and 15th Amendments almost a century earlier.
1971
The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age across the nation to 18.
1982
The Voting Rights Act Amendments extended right to vote guarantees given
in the 1965 legislation. Further provisions for Americans with disabilities,
voters not able to read and write, and those not fluent in English were
added to insure their freedoms.
1993
The National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter) expanded the opportunity
for convenient voter registration for every person of voting age by increasing
the number of active government agencies serving as registries. The departments
of Safety, Health, human Services, Mental Health and Retardation, and
Veteran's Affairs are required to include voter registration applications
with their own department's forms. Other government offices such as libraries,
post offices, county clerk offices, and the Registrar of Deeds will also
have voter forms available to the public.
1994
The Tennessee Early Voting Act replaced the previous absentee voting system
used for the state. Tennesseans now have a period of 15 days in which
to vote early before the actual election day without declaring a reason
for this early casting of votes. Voters using this opportunity may vote
at their county election office or any one of its satellite locations
in that county during their posted hours of operation.