This Civics for Democracy learning resource provides action steps for participating in today’s election process.
Education Justice Now
The 1965 Voting Rights Act — 60th Anniversary
The 60th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA) reminds us that we need to not only preserve the protections of the VRA — and reinstate those that have been removed or diluted — but also to strengthen voting rights to achieve a thriving democracy in the United States. The VRA is more than a legacy of the Civil Rights Movement; it remains essential for ensuring equal access to the ballot.
Enacted to remove the barriers of racist policies, the VRA affirmed the right to vote for millions of African Americans. Enforcement of this law has expanded political opportunities for Black Americans and other people of color. But as more diverse and pluralistic participation in politics and society has increased, conservative pushback against equality and attacks on voting rights and the VRA have also intensified. In recent years, the Supreme Court has gutted significant provisions of the VRA, resulting in increasing voter suppression. And Congress’ 2025 SAVE Act legislation would severely threaten voter participation.
Understanding the VRA’s protections and why they remain so important is a first step. Why was the Voting Rights Act enacted? What are the VRA’s essential protections? And why is the VRA crucial for democracy today? Learn more with this new Learning for Justice resource.
Why the 1965 Voting Rights Act Is Crucial for Democracy
The 1965 Voting Rights Act — a landmark federal law that removed barriers and affirmed the right to vote for millions of African Americans — remains essential for ensuring equal access to the ballot.
Understanding Voter Suppression in Today’s Election Process
Strategies to suppress voting continue to undermine our democracy today and have increased over the past two decades in response to political participation becoming more pluralistic.
View, discuss and share
See and share past Moments using these options.
Learn with us to strengthen democracy and build a more just society
Episode 5: In the Footsteps of Others: Process Drama
In learning about slavery, students often ask, “Why didn’t enslaved people run away or revolt?” Lindsay Anne Randall explains “process drama” — a method to help build empathy and understand the risks and complexities that enslaved individuals faced.