The Voting Rights Act of Virginia: Overcoming a History of Voter Discrimination

While Virginia is the birthplace of American democracy, it has struggled with ensuring the voting rights of all of its citizens for over 400 years. For most of that history, voting rights only expanded in Virginia in response to federal action in the wake of the Civil War, and contracted in response to federal inaction. This article chronicles the history of voting rights in Virginia, from the birthplace of American democracy in Jamestown and its influence on the United States Constitution, its efforts to expand and restrict voting rights, to becoming a leader in the South with the Voting Rights Act of Virginia.