5.1 Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behavior

Voting rights in the United States have expanded over time through constitutional amendments and federal legislation aimed at increasing political participation. The Constitution originally left voting qualifications largely to the states, which resulted in widespread exclusion based on race, gender, and wealth. Subsequent amendments—including the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth—removed barriers such as racial discrimination, gender exclusion, poll taxes, and age restrictions. These changes reflect the democratic principle that legitimacy depends on broad citizen participation.