The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Sixty-One Years Later, Fighting for Survival

Abstract Book of the 10th World Conference on Social Sciences

Year: 2026

[PDF]

The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Sixty-One Years Later, Fighting for Survival

Dr. Kimberly S Adams

ABSTRACT:

Thirteen years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major blow to the Voting Rights of Act of 1965 when it rendered Sec. 4b of the Act unconstitutional in Shelby v. Holder. In 2026, The Voting Rights Act of 1965, often referred to as the “crown jewel” of the American Civil Rights Movement is under grave attack again. With two impending Supreme Court decisions, and passage of the SAVE America Act, the Republican led Congress and the SC could gut voting rights, delivering the final blow to VRA of 1965. These actions would end the voting protections and federal oversight that minority groups in America have relied heavily upon for the last sixty-one years.
Using historical data, this research examines voting rights in the U.S. It explores the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its significance in expanding the U.S. electorate and eliminating discriminatory voting practices against Black citizens. The research addresses the Shelby decision and investigates how the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in Louisiana v. Callais, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe, could eviscerate voting rights and, thus, decrease minority participation in American politics (O’Leary, 2025). Finally, this work analyzes the potential impact that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act could have on voting in the 2026 mid-term elections, and future U.S. elections.

Keywords: Voting Rights Act of 1964: voter suppression; minority voters; SAVE America Act