State troopers attack peaceful marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. The televised violence shocks the nation.

Protected by federalized National Guard, thousands march 54 miles from Selma to the state capital in Montgomery.

President Lyndon Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act, prohibiting discriminatory voting practices and establishing federal preclearance for covered jurisdictions.

Congress renews and expands the VRA, extending protections to language-minority citizens.

Congress again renews the VRA and adds requirements for bilingual election materials in certain jurisdictions.

Reagan signs a 25-year extension. Congress strengthens Section 2 to prohibit voting practices with discriminatory results, not just intent.

Congress reauthorizes the VRA for 25 years by overwhelming bipartisan margins. The preclearance formula (Section 4) is retained unchanged.

The Supreme Court (5–4) strikes down the Section 4 preclearance coverage formula, effectively suspending preclearance requirements. States previously covered can immediately change voting laws without federal approval.

The House passes the JLVRAA, which would restore an updated preclearance formula. The bill dies in the Senate.

The Supreme Court (6–3) narrows the Section 2 results test, making it significantly harder to challenge state voting restrictions in federal court. The second main VRA enforcement tool is weakened.

The House passes the JLVRAA again. Senate Republicans block it via filibuster.

A Senate attempt to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act fails. The 60-vote threshold cannot be reached.

Republican-controlled legislatures in Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, and other states advance new voter ID requirements, reduced early voting windows, and aggressive voter-roll purge programs ahead of the 2026 midterm cycle.

The first major federal election cycle since Brnovich in which new state-level restrictions are fully in effect and no updated federal preclearance exists.