5 Key Restrictions on State Power Over Voting: Understanding the Constitutional Amendments, Federal Laws, Court Decisions, and Public Opinion.

What are the 5 restrictions on States power over voting?

[a] All voters allowed to vote in all races i.e. If you can vote for state offices, you can vote for national offices.[b] No deprivation of right to vote based on race (15th Amendment)[c] No gender differences (19th Amendment)[d] No tax to be paid in order to vote for national offices[e] State cannot deprive the right to vote to 18 year olds (26th Amendment)

There are several restrictions on States’ power over voting. The five most significant restrictions are:

1. The Constitution: States must adhere to the Constitution and are therefore subject to the various amendments that protect voting rights. The Fifteenth Amendment prohibits discrimination based on race or color, the Nineteenth Amendment prohibits discrimination based on gender, and the Twenty-Sixth Amendment prohibits discrimination based on age for those 18 years or older.

2. The Voting Rights Act of 1965: This federal law provides additional protections against discrimination in voting, making it illegal to impose any voting qualifications, sanctions, or procedures that discriminate on the basis of race or color.

3. The Help America Vote Act of 2002: This law established a set of minimum standards for voting systems and processes, including requirements for voter registration and provisional voting.

4. Court decisions: Over the years, the Supreme Court has issued several rulings that have protected voting rights. For example, in 1964, the Court held in Reynolds v. Sims that State legislative districts must be based on population, ensuring that every vote carries equal weight.

5. Public opinion: Public opinion can play a significant role in shaping voting laws. As the public becomes more aware of instances of voter suppression or discrimination in voting, there is growing pressure on lawmakers to enact reforms that protect voting rights.

More Answers: