LibGuides: Voting and Election Guide: Laws, Court Rulings & Elections

The Constitution established the basic rules governing federal elections. Specific policies regarding voter eligibility and restrictions, congressional voting districts, and campaign contributions have evolved over the years. Below is a list of national laws and judicial rulings that have helped to shape our electoral system. Click on each link for more information.

Williams v. Mississippi
An 1898 Supreme Court decision that upheld the use of literacy tests and poll taxes by southern states to prevent African Americans from voting. From MississippiEncyclopedia.org.
Baker v. Carr
This 1962 decision ruled that the Supreme Court could determine whether the structure of state congressional districts is constitutional. It paved the way for the "one person, one vote" principle. From Infoplease.com
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The landmark law that outlawed the practices that southern states had employed to prevent certain groups, most prominently African Americans, from voting. From Britannica.com.
The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
A federal law that established guidelines for contributions and disclosure in presidential and congressional elections. A 1974 amendment established the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to oversee the enforcement of the law. From Encyclopedia.com.
Buckley v. Valeo
A 1976 Supreme Court decision that ruled that limiting the amount of money a candidate can spend constitutes a violation of free speech. However, it did uphold limits on campaign contributions.
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold)
A 2002 law that amended the FECA to ban the use of "soft money" in federal elections. It is generally known as the McCain-Feingold Act due to its key sponsors, Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold. From Ballotpedia.com.
Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission
A 2010 Supreme Court decision that declared unconstitutional federal and state restrictions on campaign spending by corporations and labor unions. From Ballotpedia.com
Shelby County v. Holder
A 2013 Supreme Court decision that negated some of the key enforcement provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. From Ballotpedia.com.