Background Information
- Voting ControversiesA report from the CQ Researcher database that provides a well-organized overview of the issues, including background, a chronology, and related reports (see right hand column.)
- Voting RightsAn good background article from the Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present.
- Voter Registration Forms from 1960s LouisianaThe link at the top of the page shows the questionnaires that citizens in Louisiana had to fill out to register to vote.
Relevant Legislation
- Fifteenth AmendmentRatified in 1870, the fifteenth amendment protected the right of all citizens to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
- List of Voting StatutesThis list from the Department of Justice lists all the voting statutes that they enforce.
- Shelby County v. HolderIn 2013, the Supreme Court invalidated a key provision of the Voting Rights Act.
Background Books
Voting Rights : Opposing ViewpointsCall Number: 324.6 V941La
The Long Assault on Voting RightsCall Number: Streaming media
Search for information
Search Belk Library's online system to find both library materials and articles in our databases. Use the search box below to do a basic search on library materials and databases.
Scholarly Sources
- America: History & Life This link opens in a new windowCovers not just historical voting issues but also contemporary.
- Oxford African American Studies Center (AASC) This link opens in a new windowEnter "voting rights" to get links to biographies, encyclopedia articles, primary sources, images, and more.
- Worldwide Political Science Abstracts This link opens in a new windowPut in "United States" and "voting" to find political science articles.
- Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new windowOpposing Viewpoints in Context is the premier online resource covering today’s hottest social issues.
News Sources
- New York TimesTimeline and collection of NY Times articles on voter registration and requirements.
- NPRRead and listen to news stories from National Public Radio.
- Huffington PostCollection of short news articles and commentaries on voting rights.
Organizations Involved with Voting
- League of Women VotersFormed in 1920 from the women's suffrage movement, the League now works to engage all citizens in democracy.
- Project VoteProject Vote is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit that works to mobilize marginalized and under-represented voters. The sidebar at the right has a list of topics.
- American Civil Liberties UnionThe ACLU works to protect and expand the right to vote.