The 1965 Voting Rights Act greatly extended federal power in the United States. A frankly regional measure, it took aim at Deep South states by stipulating that the Justice Department could intervene to suspend discriminatory registration tests in counties where 50 percent or fewer of the county's voting-age population had been able to register.
The 1965 Voting Rights Act significantly increased federal authority to combat racial discrimination in voting practices. Although it was largely regional in scope, the legislation specifically targeted Deep South states where discriminatory registration tests were used to suppress Black voters. It empowered the Justice Department to intervene in counties that had low registration rates among their voting-age populations.
"The Act stipulated that the Justice Department could suspend discriminatory registration tests in counties where 50 percent or fewer of the voting-age population had registered," according to James T. Patterson. This measure aimed to address systemic barriers that prevented many eligible voters from exercising their electoral rights, marking a major step forward in civil rights and voting equality in the United States.
