The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was important because it:

The VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 was landmark civil rights legislation signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the Civil Rights Movement. Although the 15th Amendment (1870) had technically guaranteed the right to vote regardless of race, Southern states had systematically disenfranchised Black voters through poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, and intimidation. The Voting Rights Act prohibited these practices and provided federal oversight of elections in areas with a history of discrimination. It is considered one of the most effective civil rights laws in US history. USCIS questions on civil rights connect to broader themes of American history and the ongoing expansion of voting rights.