What was the main goal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

The main goal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was to eliminate racial discrimination in voting. This landmark legislation was enacted to address the widespread disenfranchisement of African American voters, especially in the Southern states, where various discriminatory practices had been employed to suppress their voting rights. By prohibiting literacy tests and other barriers that disproportionately affected minority voters, the Act aimed to ensure that all citizens could exercise their right to vote without facing racial discrimination.

The act also established federal oversight of voter registration in areas with a history of discriminatory practices, thereby empowering the federal government to intervene and protect the voting rights of individuals. Its passage marked a significant step towards achieving racial equality in the electoral process and sought to uphold the democratic principle that every citizen, regardless of race, should have an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process.