Which 1965 law aimed to eliminate barriers to voting by banning literacy tests and enabling federal oversight of elections?

• A. Civil Rights Act of 1964
• B. Voting Rights Act of 1965
• C. 24th Amendment
• D. Fair Housing Act

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how federal law moved to remove voting barriers in the 1960s. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is the law that directly targeted those barriers by banning literacy tests and giving the federal government stronger oversight of elections in jurisdictions with a history of discriminatory practices. It established mechanisms like preclearance, so changes to voting procedures in covered areas had to be approved by the federal government before taking effect, which dramatically reduced discriminatory practices at the local level. By contrast, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mainly outlawed segregation and discrimination in public accommodations and employment and created the EEOC; it did not eliminate literacy tests or set up ongoing federal election oversight. The 24th Amendment outlawed poll taxes in federal elections but did not address literacy tests or broader federal supervision of elections. The Fair Housing Act targets housing discrimination, not voting.