On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act in a ceremony attended by major civil rights leaders. The law targeted discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and devices used to block Black voters and other minorities from the polls. It authorized federal oversight of voter registration in areas with histories of discrimination. The act dramatically increased voter registration and participation among African Americans in the South. It is widely regarded as one of the most important civil rights laws in U.S. history. The Voting Rights Act reshaped the political landscape of the United States and continues to influence voting rights debates today.
